Results Faun Drome Classic 2026 | Romain Grégoire outkicks Matteo Jorgenson to win in dramatic finale

Romain Grégoire has won the 2026 Faun Drome Classic in Étoile-sur-Rhône after emerging victorious from a two-man sprint against Matteo Jorgenson, capping a selective afternoon defined by repeated accelerations and a decisive move on the Mur d’Allex.

The Groupama-FDJ United rider crossed the line in 4:14:11, with Jorgenson finishing on the same time. Lenny Martinez led a small chasing group home two seconds later, ahead of Quinten Hermans and Paul Lapeira.

The race fractured for good inside the final 15 kilometres.

After the early breakaway had been steadily dismantled through the middle phase of the race, the elite selection formed on the longer climbs before the decisive acceleration came on the steep 0.6 kilometre Mur d’Allex at 8.6 percent.

Jorgenson and Grégoire attacked together, immediately carving out a gap of around 25 seconds. Attempts to bridge from behind lacked cohesion, and although the gap briefly fluctuated, the duo maintained their advantage into the final 10 kilometres.

Behind them, the peloton had already been reduced to around 40 riders, reflecting the cumulative effect of 17 climbs and more than 2,200 metres of elevation gain.

The final climb of Étoile-sur-Rhône, 1 kilometre at 5.6 percent, served as the last opportunity to break the deadlock. Neither rider could dislodge the other on the ascent, and cooperation resumed over the crest.

The pair entered the final kilometre together, with Grégoire positioned on Jorgenson’s wheel. The gap to the chasers had narrowed slightly but remained sufficient to ensure the winner would come from the front duo.

In the sprint, Grégoire proved the sharper finisher. The Frenchman came off Jorgenson’s wheel and edged ahead in the final metres to secure victory.

Jorgenson was forced to settle for second, while Martinez led home the next group two seconds later.

Unlike the previous day’s long-range solo in Ardèche, the Drome Classic was decided by collective aggression and a late, well-timed move rather than a sustained raid.

The repeated short walls and sustained climbs steadily reduced the field before the Mur d’Allex provided the decisive launchpad.

For Grégoire, it is a victory built on patience and positioning rather than early spectacle, and a reminder that, in Drome, timing often outweighs brute force.