Paul Lapeira

"I'm coming back close to winning."

It was a big day. I didn't think I would do so well, but I'm glad I did! I anticipated about 60 kilometers with Mikkel Honoré and Louis Vervaeke. The goal was to stay ahead as long as possible to maintain an advantage when the battle began behind us. Once the group caught up with us, we had to hang on. When the group that goes all the way out, I may have lacked a little daring, I think I could have done it with my legs. As there were two riders Groupama-FDJ, I thought they would close the gap, but that wasn't the case. Then I tried to break away again with 8 kilometers to go when I saw that we weren't going to catch up with the leaders. It took a lot of effort, but I found myself really close to the leading group. Unfortunately, at that moment, they were attacking at the front and the group was riding behind. When I saw that they were coming back, I immediately got back up, thinking about the sprint, because I knew that with my speed, I was capable of getting a good place. I managed my sprint well with the headwind. I didn't come far from winning, which is frustrating, but hey... fifth place is already a very satisfying result.

The news

Paul Lapeira first Frenchman in Amstel Gold Race

Paul Lapeira was the first Frenchman to finish the Amstel Gold Race, which he finished in fifth place after exiting with 63 kilometers to go.

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Like Clément Berthet's second place in Tour Doubs: "I had victory within my grasp, I could almost see myself winning, so I'm disappointed. It would have been great to claim my first professional victory here. But we had a great team race and we're in good shape."Nicolas Prodhomme's impressive sixth place is also worth noting.