14/04/2023

Classic Grand Besançon Doubs: Victor Lafay takes win for Cofidis, outsprints Lenny Martínez

The Tour du Doubs saw a brutal battle up the final climb between Victor Lafay and Lenny Martínez, but the Cofidis rider managed to take the win in the final sprint.

The breakaway of the day consisted in six riders: Emil Vinjebo (Leopard TOGT Pro Cycling), Morné van Nierkerk (St Michel - Mavic - Auber93), Rory Townsend (Bolton Equities Black Spoke), Charlie Quarterman (Team Corratec), Wesley Mol (Bike Aid) and Sean Christian (Aevolo).

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Their gap grew as high as five minutes in the rolling roads of the Doubs region, but the chase of the peloton was always going to be too intense. AG2R Citroën Team and Groupama - FDJ kept the pace high, with Cofidis also present as the local World Tour teams felt the pressure.

Van Niekerk and Townsend were the last survivors, eventually caught with 14 kilometers to go as Arkéa Samsic also showed their guns towards the front. The peloton headed towards the final ascent reduced and with the World Tour teams swarming the front.

The fight for positioning ahead of the final climb was intense, with narrow roads being the leading cause. With more than three kilometers to go, not far from the start of the ascent Lenny Martínez launched an attack splitting the group with five riders going up the road. Alex Baudin then accelerated, and was dropped as Victor Lafay made a move, with Martínez and Roger Adrià following (albeit for a bit only). Guillaume Martin made a move behind and tried to catch up with the leading duo.

Mart´ínez launched several attacks in the final meters but without dropping Lafay. The chasing duo bridged across in the final meters with Adrià launching his sprint first, but in the finishing straight Victor Lafay managed to be the fastest and take the win as Adrià crossed the line in third, and Lenny Martínez finished a frustrating second.