Published on : 05/29/2026
The opening stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne between Saint-Berthevin and Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne ended in a bunch sprint after 166 kilometres of rolling terrain, raced under stifling heat with temperatures approaching 34 degrees.
A five-rider breakaway formed in the opening kilometres and animated the race for many hours, but the escapees were gradually reeled in. The last survivor was caught with 11 kilometres to go, leaving the door open for a bunch sprint. The finale was particularly tense, with nerves running high in the peloton as the finish approached.
Alexis Renard finishes 13th on this opening stage.
Evaldas Šiškevičius, sports director:
"A fairly flat stage raced in intense heat, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees. We went with a conservative approach today. We tried to position Alexis as best we could, but it didn't quite work out — he finishes 13th when he could certainly have done better. The team remains focused on the general classification, and tomorrow will be a decisive stage that we are already fully concentrated on."