Bretagne Ladies Tour – Stage 3 – Valentine Fortin 2nd in Laval, Ema Comte Finishes Strong

There are some races that leave you with a strange feeling. On the one hand, there’s no regret for having given it everything, right to the very end, to overturn the general classification of the Bretagne Ladies Tour. With Ema Comte trailing by 27 seconds at the start of this third stage, the task was not an easy one. “This (the circuit) wasn’t tough enough to hope for such big gaps and to be able to launch attacks,” commented our sports director, Mélanie Briot, at the finish. Yet, Ema Comte gave it a shot. In the streets of Laval, the young French rider gained up to 10–15 seconds on a peloton racing at full speed. It wasn’t enough. 

Just like in the men’s race, victory came down to a sprint finish in Laval. The Cofidis team did their job, with Amalie Dideriksen stepping up as the perfect teammate for Valentine Fortin. But just like in the first stage, it was Sandrine Tas who raised her arms in victory. “We’ll settle for second place, once again. It’s a bit frustrating, but we saw a great team effort,” continued Mélanie Briot. “We’re hovering around victory—that’s what’s most frustrating; we’d really like to raise our arms in triumph. For the staff too, because there are riders, but a team is made up of staff and riders. " 

In the general classification, Ema Comte drops one spot and is overtaken by today’s winner. She finishes 4th in the Bretagne Ladies Tour and wins the white jersey for best young rider. After posting a strong time in the second stage, Marion Borras finishes 5th. Amalie Dideriksen is 10th. 

Mélanie Briot, sports director: "The course was similar to the men’s route at the Boucles de la Mayenne, starting in Cosse-et-Livien and finishing in Laval, though likely with a few fewer laps on the final circuit.

We wanted to try to make a move in the race and go for the overall classification jersey. It’s not easy; 27 seconds was a long way off, yet it felt close at the same time.  The course wasn’t demanding enough, and the wind wasn’t blowing in the right direction, because the roads are actually quite favorable. Unfortunately, I think it wasn’t tough enough to hope for such big gaps or to launch attacks.  We’ll have to settle for second place, once again.  It’s a bit frustrating, but we saw some great teamwork.

We still had a great weekend, even if we’re just skirting around victory—that’s what’s frustrating; we’d really like to raise our arms in victory.  For the staff too, because there are riders, but a team is made up of staff and riders.  We’re just skirting around it; we’d really like to win.

We wanted to end the weekend on a high note, and we finished second with Valentine Fortin in the stage. We lost Ema Comte’s third place in the overall standings because there were some minor gaps in the final sprint.
That’s not what we should focus on. Ema was bold and aggressive.  She made a move in the last three laps of the circuit, opening up a gap of up to 10–15 seconds. It stayed that way for two laps.  We figured that, in any case, making up 27 seconds  was no longer possible on a circuit like this. There were 5–7 kilometers left. But it was a good effort on her part. I think it was bold, and it will pay off someday.
It’s always a little frustrating to lose that third place overall.  But the important thing is to focus on the positive and to have tried. She’s young. She’s showing once again that she’s up to the challenge.  That’s a good sign for the future."