The 21-year-old Frenchman from Decathlon CMA CGM beats Depuydt and Page on the slightly sloping finish line in Dun-le-Palestel, also taking the leader's jersey
Noa Isidore has finally satisfied the desire he's been chasing for months. The 21-year-old Decathlon CMA CGM rider scored the first victory of his professional career, winning the opening stage of the Tour du Limousin in a sprint finish on the uphill finish in Dun-le-Palestel.
The Frenchman outsprinted Daan Depuyt (Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions) at the end of a 175km stage, also taking the overall leader's jersey. Hugo Page (Cofidis) rounded out the podium, ahead of Isidore's teammate Pierre Guatherat and Alex Aranburu (Cofidis).
A success that tastes like revenge for Isidore, coming off a season studded with important placings but never the decisive spark: five podiums this season, including a second place in a stage of the Volta a Catalunya and another honorable placing at the GP du Morbihan.
The stage, with its 2,000 meters of elevation gain, offered no shortage of action from the very first pedal strokes. A five-man breakaway formed early, with Antoine Berge (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Joonas Puuraid (Bike Aid), Clément Davy (Nice Métropole-Côte d'Azur), Jean-Louis Le Ny (Veloce Club Rouen 76), and Maximilien Juillard (VC Villefrance Beaujolais) leading the charge.
Behind them, Cofidis and Lotto-Intermarché managed the peloton with a firm hand, allowing the leaders' lead to grow to three minutes. The leading group, stripped of Berger (dropped with 104 km to go) and Puuraid (dropped with 57 km to go), remained compact until kilometer 21.
Right there, sensing the peloton closing in dangerously, Davy attempted a solo attack, holding out for 4 kilometers before being caught. From that moment on, Lotto took over, only to hand over to Decathlon CMA CGM in the finale, which orchestrated a perfect leadout to launch Isidore to victory.
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
The 21-year-old Frenchman from Decathlon CMA CGM beats Depuydt and Page on the slightly sloping finish line in Dun-le-Palestel, also taking the leader's jersey
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