On the legendary cobbles of Paris–Roubaix, Team TotalEnergies delivered a brave and aggressive performance, full of twists and turns. At the end of an incredibly fast and selective race, Anthony Turgis secured a solid 14th place, reflecting a day of relentless fighting against the odds.
An attacking plan disrupted
From the start, the team’s strategy was clear: get several riders into the early breakaway, while Anthony and Florian Dauphin stayed protected in the peloton for the key sectors. But the race had other plans. Driven by a favorable tailwind, the peloton pushed at a blistering pace—over 50 km/h on average before the first cobbled section—leaving no room for a break to form.
Even so, Anthony, Florian, Sandy Dujardin, and Thomas Gachignard reached the first cobbles in a perfect position.
The cobbles: an unforgiving judge
The race quickly descended into the chaos typical of the “Hell of the North.” Right from the first sector, Thomas suffered a mechanical issue (a jammed chain) that dropped him far behind. Despite a long chase, he was unable to make it back, leaving him with understandable regrets given how strong he felt.
Behind him, Rayan Boulahoite, Samuel Leroux, and Alexys Brunel were caught out by the intense pace and constant tension. A puncture for Boulahoite—on a sector that also proved costly for Tadej Pogačar—ended his chances of getting back to the front.
The iconic Trouée d’Arenberg once again proved decisive. Dujardin broke a wheel there, losing any chance to make an impact, while Florian, riding on a late-detected puncture, was dropped after a delayed bike change.
Anthony Turgis, the last man standing
Amid this gradual elimination, Anthony Turgis remained the team’s sole rider at the front. Showing real determination, he managed to join the group fighting for a top-10 finish. But luck still wasn’t on his side: a first puncture, followed by a second, disrupted his momentum. A minor crash late in the race only added to the challenge.
Against a particularly strong field—highlighted by decisive moves from Nils Politt and Mike Teunissen—Anthony was unable to catch the crucial split at the key moment.
A well-earned 14th place in tough conditions
In the end, 14th place rewards his resilience, finishing in line with how he felt on the day despite a series of setbacks. For Team TotalEnergies, this Paris–Roubaix will be remembered as a race of missed opportunities, but also of a team that fought hard under extreme conditions.
Another reminder of the brutal reality of the cobbles.
Strong showing from the development team
Earlier in the day, the development squad also delivered a strong performance.
Wout Van Aert wasn’t the first to cross the line at the André Pétrieux Velodrome—but only because the U23 race had finished a few hours earlier. Among those riders were members of Vendée U – Primeo Energie.
The young riders put together an impressive race, featuring prominently at the front, first through Johan Chardon. Then it was 18-year-old Breton rider Gabin Gicquel who stood out.
He finished in the favorites’ group, taking 7th place—a great result for Vendée U – Primeo Energie, who started the race as outsiders.
It marks the team’s best performance in the U23 Paris–Roubaix since Fabien Grellier in 2014.
