Kévin Geniets outsprints Alex Baudin to wins Grand Prix La Marseillaise

Kévin Geniets has won the Grand Prix La Marseillaise. The Groupama-FDJ rider was the fastest in a two-up sprint at the end of the first French race of the year, and took his first pro win outside of national championships.

The French race began with a breakaway of five riders consisting of Théo Delacroix, Alex Colman, Hugo Toumire, Jean-Louis Le Ny and Jelle Vermoote. Not a threatening group, which the peloton comfortably managed to keep on a tight leash, before the day's action would kick off in the final kilometers of the day.

Pre-race favourites Milan Menten and Stefano Oldani were among a big crash that took place with 40 kilometers to go. The peloton, still sizeable however, was no longer after it tackled the Route des Crêtes. Rémy Rochas put in a strong effort to launch Groupama-FDJ teammate Kévin Geniets and Alex Baudin in the toughest climb of the day.

The two went clear from the peloton, but behind the race was blown to bits just as much. There was no longer a peloton to chase but instead small groups which did not find perfect collaboration, which led the gap to grow up to 50 seconds.

In the final ascent of the day Kévin Vauquelin attacked from the chasing group and arrived at the summit with 25 seconds disadvantage; whilst other chasers were not too far. Fatigue settled in the leading duo but the downhill finish favoured them.

Geniets led out the sprint from the front, however he had too much speed for Baudin in the finishing straight and rode into a fabulous win in the center of Marseille. Kévin Vauquelin rode to a third spot closely behind.

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