The afternoon started on a positive note for Team TotalEnergies on the roads of Andalusia. On Stage 4 of the Ruta del Sol, Geoffrey Bouchard went on the attack, rewarding the team’s collective effort. In the finale, Sandy Dujardin delivered with a third place in the sprint, confirming his growing form.
But it was from the south of France that the real highlight came.
Over the 176.6 kilometres of the Classic Var, the race remained under control for a long time. Alert and united in the heart of the peloton, our riders managed the moves perfectly before the pace lifted approaching Brignoles, host town of the finish.
In a nervous and fiercely contested finale, Jason Tesson could rely on a strong team around him. Nicola Marcerou and Lorrenzo Manzin did a tremendous job positioning him perfectly in the closing kilometres. Launched at the ideal moment, Jason held off teams with numerical superiority to take victory by mere centimetres at the end of an intense sprint. After 4 hours and 10 minutes of racing, he raised his arms for the fourth consecutive year in Team TotalEnergies colours, securing the team’s first road victory of the season.
What an incredible day! I’m very proud to give the team its first victory of the season. It’s an important win that rewards the work of the whole group. I hope it’s only the beginning.
I’m also thinking of Lorrenzo. He once again did a great job positioning me in the finale, and his crash affected us all.
On a personal level, this success has special meaning. I would like to dedicate it to little Sandro, a close friend who recently passed away, whom I wish I had known better.
To make the day even more special, my partner also won today in Vendée. A memory we will cherish for a long time.
It was a powerful tribute to a young loved one who passed away last week.
However, the victory was overshadowed by Lorrenzo Manzin’s crash 300 metres from the finish. After playing a key role in the lead-out, the French rider was brought down in the final sprint.
Medical examinations revealed a concussion without signs of severity, as well as a scalp wound that required stitches. Conscious and quickly treated by medical staff, Lorrenzo will now follow the standard concussion protocol and observe a period of rest. The entire team stands behind him during his recovery.
The team now turns its focus to the upcoming races. Tomorrow, attention shifts to the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, a more undulating event that should offer a different type of challenge.
The riders at the start will be: Thomas Bonnet, Nicolas Breuillard, Joris Delbove, Alexandre Delettre, Fabien Doubey, Théo Levêque and Valentin Retailleau.
