Bryan COQUARD

This Tour de France definitely has many surprises in store... Although the riders are tired after 18 very demanding stages, they continue to put on a show of rare intensity. Several of them are determined to lead a last stand and try to isolate themselves. Among them, we obviously find Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Zingle and Coquard (Cofidis), Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech). However, the good shot does not seem to have been formed, too many teams wishing to win in this 100% Jura stage.Finally, after more than 60 kilometers of struggle, the race settles after the intermediate sprint and sees a group of some 36 riders get out of the peloton: Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic), Houle, Neilands, Strong and Clarke (Israel -Premier Tech), Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Izagirre (Cofidis) in particular.Particularly discreet so far, the Australian Simon Clarke has ants in his legs and launches an offensive 60 kilometers from the finish, accompanied by the inevitable "Campi". "Aerodinamic..a" and well placed on their machines, the two adventurers deliver an effective choreography but cramps stop Clarke 28 kilometers further. A few hectometres later, in the last "repecho" of the day, Campenaerts was taken over by a trio of fugitives who "jo...ured" the victory to Poligny. Behind, although to their advantage Strong and Barguil will not be able to defend their luck, victims of a fall for one and mechanical trouble for the other.Distinction rarely awarded two days in a row to the same rider, the prize for combativeness is still awarded to Campenaerts for all of his work!Photo credits: Sprint Cycling and Sirotti

New breakaway at kilometer 0. This consists of a trio in which we find Mathis Louvel for Arkéa-Samsic, accompanied by Daniel Oss and Andrey Amador. The fugitives widen the gap, which will reach 3 minutes and 20 seconds. At km 109, Philipsen and Coquard are fighting for fourth place in the intermediate sprint. The Belgian is the strongest. At 53 kilometers from the finish, Mathis rejoins the peloton after more than 120 terminals passed at the front. The victory is then decided in the sprint: fifth sprint and fifth TOP10 for Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) who takes a good 4th place. He declared, lucid: “Given the positioning I had per kilometer, 4th is well paid!” Note the 7th place of the Italian rider Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-Samsic), author a few days ago of a top 4 in Bordeaux (stage 7). © photo credit Sirott

By gleaning 20 points again today during the intermediate sprint, the resident of the Cofidis formation, Bryan Coquard, consolidates his second place in the ranking of the green jersey. With 104 points, he is in ambush, 46 points behind Philipsen. Cofidis still with the climber Guillaume Martin, who entered the top 20. He now points to 17th place in the general classification. About the stage, he says: “It was a very difficult stage again and we expected it with the ascent of the three legendary passes. (...) There was a big 'skimming' from the ascent of the Tourmalet. I hung on until the final climb (...) After my two frustrating stages in the mountains, I'm happy to be in the game and not to be too off the track in the general classification” To be continued…

Bryan Coquard (COFIDIS) slipped into the first breakaway of the day with one objective in mind: to win the intermediate sprint. Mission accomplished at kilometer 48, he was the fastest and collected 20 points. With 84 points, he is now a solid runner-up to Philipsen.  Belgian Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) broke away with Van Aert and Mads Pedersen. They were caught less than 3 kilometers from the top of the Col de Soudet.  Israel Premier-Tech rider Krists Neilands briefly went it alone on the Col d'Ichère.

A fine day for the Ekoï riders yesterday marked by a new breakaway and a hard sprint.85 km from the finish, Anthony Delaplace (Arkéa-Samsic) takes the lead with B.Cosnefroy. Taken back 25 km from the line, the duo rejoins a peloton in working order to compete in the massive sprint on the Nogaro circuit. Sprint that the explosive Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) just misses, beaten only by half a wheel by Philipsen.Note a promising fourth place from Bryan Coquard. The Cofidis sprinter is gaining momentum! To be continued...