"I hope there are more to come" - Victor Lafay eyes Flèche Wallone following win at Classic Grand Besançon Doubs

Victor Lafay is no unknown but today he has once again stamped his authority in the French scene. The winner of a stage at the 2021 Giro d'Italia showed his best legs this afternoon at the Tour du Doubs he won the first one-day race of his career.

"It's always good to get the first win of the season, I hope there are more to come," Lafay told DirectVélo in a post-race interview. Lafay was one of three cards for Cofidis, alongside defending champion Jesús Herrada and Guillaume Martin. All had freedom however inside the final climb it was up to them individually to make the difference. In an effort that proved more suited to the puncheurs, the race blew up right away up the final climb.

"Lenny Martinez started very strong at the foot of the final climb. I didn't think it would start so early, the battle," Lafay talked. He was the only one to match the many attacks of Martínez up the final kilometers. Then, as Guillaume Martin chased behind, the 19-year old attacked several more times with Lafay responding. "Martinez was really strong. However, I was able to play with him, trusting that Guillaume Martin was right behind me.”

“I prepared for his attacks, I knew they were coming. Of course it was frustrating for him that I was in the wheel, but that's the game. If he had Thibaut Pinot right behind him, he would certainly have done the same," he said. Having saved his legs for a potential sprint, it proved the right option for the 27-year old, who then outsprinted both Martínez and Roger Adrià in the final sprint.

Lafay is set to lead Cofidis at the Flèche Wallone, as he gets a leading role within Cofidis this spring. He will take part in the Ardennes with ambitions, with a strong result at Fléche his main one perhaps: “That's a big goal. I would love to ride a top 10, that would be great. Top 5 would be even better," he concluded.