At the first corner, the Sarthois Louison Le Barbier, the Mariligérien Alexy Fouquet and the Angevin Séraphin Barbot are already jostling for position. At the first crossing of the line, Barbot is in the lead, he is ahead of Fouquet, Le Barbier, then Guilmet (Brette 72) and Fougère (Verrières AC). On the next lap, it was Fouquet who took control of the race. There are some good people in his wheel; In order, Barbot, Le Barbier, Fougère and Ollivier. But also the strong rider from UC Cholet, Anatole Leboucher, who marks his return to the discipline: A one shot, I won't do the departmental championship, the new road season will come quickly
. A duel between Fouquet and Barbot is taking shape. Behind this leading duo, we grit our teeth. We are approaching a third of the race, leader Fouquet falls and loses places, while Ollivier accelerates and takes the lead. We're halfway through the race. Fouquet is on the ground again.
The SCO hopeful, Maxence Rivière, takes the lead. Now he is ahead of Le Barbier and Ollivier, Barbot is fourth, ahead of Fouquet. At the start of the last third, Barbot puts the turbo on. Ollivier tries to react, like Rivière. The Barber seems surprised. However, it is he who will invite himself as Barbot's runner-up: Today I really believed in victory, after three second places. It doesn't go that far, I finish strong to overtake Gurvan (Ollivier) and we are a few meters from Séraphin (Barbot)
. The SCO Angevin takes his third victory of the season in Maine-et-Loire, the day after a great performance in the Coupe de France: Great to win close to home for a second year in a row. Yesterday at Pierric, I had a good start to the race and I played for the Top 25, before a puncture at the end. I'm scoring points, it's important for my main objective of the season which is to qualify for the French Championship.
THE RANKING
1. Barbot (SCO), 2. Le Barbier (Montgesnois) 1is U23, 3. Ollivier (Sprint Energy), 4. Rivière (SCO) 2e U23, 5. Guilmet (Brette) 3e U23, 6. Fougère (Verrières AC), 7. Samoyeau (independent), 8. Bossard (Gifted Cycling)…
