Valentin Madouas becomes new French national champion as heat makes for horrific day on the bike

Julian Alaphilippe was the big favorite of the French press to win the French national road championship, but it was the Groupama - FDJ team that dominated the race and ended up taking the title thanks to a sensational Valentin Madouas who soloed to the finish line;

It was double for Groupama, with second place for Rudy Molard. Third was Julien Bernard and fourth was Tony Gallopin (both Trek-Segafredo). The rest of the field has arrived at the finish in one's and two's, as many of the big favourites such as Alaphilippe and David Gaudu - alongside several other riders - exploded in the swelling heat and very difficult circuit.

With 30 kilometers to go, the leading group consisted of Madouas, Rudy Molard, Nans Peters, Julien Bernard and Elie Gesbert, but behind them were close behind David Gaudu, Tony Gallopin and Benoït Cosnefroy. Among them was going to be the winner.

So, after a few attacks that left 3 FDJ men in the lead, 24 km from the finish line Madouas and Molard were alone and 2 km later the Breton went solo for the victory after a great job by Groupama as his teammates cracked.

Despite suffering a chain problem and having to change bikes, Madouas kept up the pace and continued with a comfortable lead of over a minute over Molard, Bernard and Gallopin.

Thus, a Valentin Madouas who had finished fifth in 2019, eighth in 2020 and seventh in 2021 finally managed to make the leap forward to be crowned champion of France and thus wear the tricolor in the next Tour de France.