Maciej Bodnar impresses to almost snatch Provence stage win: "I was not thinking about an attack"

Wind marked the second stage of the Tour de la Provence as many teams struggled with the conditions out on the road. TotalEnergies though thrived, and almost got an unexpected reward out of it.

The French team's ambitions for the day were to keep Pierre Latour's GC ambitions intact, after a great performance in the prologue which saw him finish fifth: "We knew it would be a lot of wind, some echelons so the goal of the team was to protect Pierre [Latour] and I think we did a good job. Before the guys were working, than me and Pierre [made the decisive split]. We are still in GC with Pierre with have a good position."

After trying to spark a move with 106 kilometers to go, the duo then managed to be in the main echelons that formed with 82 kilometers to go. The Polish time-trialist is no stranger to attacking on windy stages - his attack with Peter Sagan, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas in the 2016 Tour de France being a prime example - however it was unexpected to see Bodnar on the attack and so close to an impressive win, in what could be only his second career in a non time-trial stage during his pro career.

"Pierre told me if you want you can go, I was not thinking about an attack but I saw a hole behind me and I was trying to go. Maybe it was too early but it's like this. Later I saw Filippo was coming and I was hoping I could catch his wheel, but in the end the bunch was already behind. A day like this, always in the wind, I tried to do something and am happy about it," he added.

Bodnar was an addition to the French team after Peter Sagan was signed, the Slovakian brought in several members of his block over from BORA - hansgrohe and after Daniel Oss impressed at the Saudi Tour, Bodnar is also giving very good signs ahead of the classics campaign: "I feel really great in this team, it's great atmosphere, I feel like even at 36 years old I stillf eel good, and have some new motivation in the team."