Frenchman takes his first win of the season ahead of the Tour de France
Bbox Bouygues Telecom captain Thomas Voeckler rode to his second road national championship tile in Chantonnay, France today. Voeckler last held the title in 2004, the year he won over the public by securing the maillot jaune at the Tour de France with a gutsy performance that saw him remain in yellow for a remarkable ten days. In 2006 the Alsatian rider came close taking the tricolore jersey, but had to settle for second place behind Florent Brard on the identical course, a result that left unfinished business for the Frenchman.
“I erased the disappointment of 2006. I was very concentrated,” he told French newspaper Le Parisien after his win. “Christophe [Le Mevel] (Française des Jeux) made me very nervous. We know each other very well, he knew that I was faster [in a sprint], but I was afraid of him on the last climb.”
The 239.7 kilometer route consisted of seventeen laps of a 14.1 kilometer circuit. The break with the main protagonists of the day consisted of Anthony Charteau (BBox Bouygues Telecom), William Levarlet (Saur Sojasun), Jonathan Thiré (Big Mat Auber 93) and Benoît Vaugrenard (Française des Jeux). The quintet was allowed more than seven minutes before their compatriots behind started to pull them back into the fold. Once the break was wiped away a trio made up of Voeckler, his Bbox teammate Pierrick Fedrigo and Le Mevel took over at the head of the race. Eventually the race came down to Voeckler and Le Mevel, who kept their tenuous lead over the chasers intact. Le Mevel was unable to shake the 31 year old, and he sprinted for the honor of riding in his national jersey during the Tour de France next month.