The French qualifier in Perpignan had new courses for this year’s edition and keeps on growing with 1335 riders signing up for one of the different distances.
In the 12.5km mountain time trial up the Col des Gascons on Thursday, 148 riders preregistered with a complete French podium in the men’s race. Maxime Limone beated his compatriots Hugo Drechou and Loick Dussol by respectively 4 and 6 seconds in an average speed of 27.5km/h.
German Julia Schallau won the female time trial before Axelle Dubau-Prevot and Severine Jouan Chavant by 26 seconds and 1m02 in an average speed of 22.6km/h.
On Saturday, the 164km granfondo with start and finish along the coast but with a challenging course over different mountains had the same winner as last year as Loic Dussol renewed his victory beating Gabriel Roger and Alexandre De Marans in a 4-men sprint for a complete French podium in an average speed of 37.3km/h.
Axelle Dubau-Prevot took the female win in the granfondo with 35.4km/h average. Time trial winner Julia Schallau got second spot at more than 7 minutes with Severine Jouan Chavant again as third.
In the 139km mediofondo counting as qualifier distance for the older age groups, French Paul Ortavent won the overall race with Alain Ignace as first rider in the categories going for qualification. Cyndie Lacour was the first female with Italian Patrizia Romanello as first lady in the qualification categories.
