Alexis Gougeard of AG2R La Mondiale has won the Classic Loire Atlantique.
This second race of the French Cup was over eleven laps of an circuit that started and finished in La Haye-Fouassière, making a total of 184kms to be raced.
A break of five in Houle, Reza, Nauleau, Duval and Guay fnally got established but were never more than a minute ahead and with eighty kilometres to go, Gougeard, Feillu, Delaplace, Nauleau, Tulik, Voeckler, Marcato, Fraile, Combaud, Renault, Dupont, El Fares and Delfosse, had joined Houle and Reza on the front.
They had a lead of 1.35 before Alexis Gougeard went away. The AG2R rider made his move with less than ten kilometres to go and went on to take the win in 4.27.24, three seconds ahead of Marco Marcato of Wanty Groupe and Anthony Delaplace of Bretagne-Seche Environnement.
Gougeard said to his team's website: "Once you try your luck at less than ten kilometers of the stage left, you have go alone.
"There was a group with four kilometers, but I managed to get out again and I had no doubt that I would not win.
"My third professional win is reassuring for the future. Since the beginning of the season I turned it around (six top ten in 18 race days) and was not too far away in the Three Days of Flanders.
"Anyway, the team worked well, I'm not the only one in the team and after Cholet, it will be time to think about Belgian classics. And I can not wait!"