After four days of competition, the French Championships on the road will end this Sunday with the main event: the men’s road race. Last year, the show was exceptional… and we expect just as much for this 2024 edition. After a departure in Avranches at the end of the morning, the runners will cover 27 kilometers to reach the final circuit around Saint-Martin- de-Landelles. A 16.4 kilometer circuit punctuated by three bumps: the Côte de la Vallée (800 m at 8%), the Montée de la Pigeonnière (500 m at 6%) and the Côte des Biards (500 m at 7%). In total, there will be 240.6 kilometers to cover, with 3,600 meters of elevation gain.
Daniel Mangeas, his 50th and last France at home!
Groupama-FDJ and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, who will have control over the race?
If none of the difficulties of the course are insurmountable, it is the sequence of these climbs, the restarts and the technical parts which should make the difference. If some sprinters could survive this course, we are mainly waiting for the punchers. On the start line, two teams act as scarecrows: the Groupama-FDJ et Decathlon AG2R la Mondiale. With their development teams, the two teams will arrive at the start with 21 and 20 riders.
On the men’s side of Marc Madiotdespite the absence of David Gauduwe can count on the title holder Valentin Madouasbut also on Romain Grégoire, Lenny Martinez, Rudy Molard or Quentin Pacher. While for the Savoyard team, the squad is much more homogeneous, almost all the riders will be worth watching. If we have to identify a few names, those of Benoit Cosnefroy, Dorian Godon Or other Paul Lapeira are to be highlighted.
Alaphilippe, Laporte, Laurance, Vauquelin, Zingle… the other favorites
Another very well represented team, with 19 riders (development team included), Arkéa-B&B Hotels will be able to count on its strong men with Kevin Vauquelinbut also two former champions: Arnaud Démare et Florian Sénéchal. Should Cofidis bet everything on its duo of fast men, Bryan Coquard et Axel Zingletanids that the TotalEnergies will rely on a solid workforce, but without a great leader.
Apart from these great French teams, individuals will be worth watching. We obviously think of Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step), Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike), Remi Cavagna (Movistar Team) or other Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
Course
Avranches – Saint-Martin-de-Landelles / 240.6 km (actual departure at 10:37 a.m. – arrival around 4:30 p.m.)
The route:
The profile : (via LaFlammeRouge)
