The pro road racing season has gotten underway in France today, despite Covid-19, with a win for the home riders; Aurélien Paret-Peintre first to the line for AG2R Citroën Team at Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise (1.1).
The sight of a large peloton on European roads was especially welcome this year amid race cancellations in other countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While races have already been cancelled, postponed or run in a reduced capacity without international teams, the French seem determined to push ahead.
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As well as today's one-day race won in a sprint from a much reduced peloton, the Etoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard stage race is due to get underway on Monday, for five stages. And on Thursday week the four-stage Tour de la Provence, also in France, was due to start.
Today Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) got the verdict in a tight sprint from Thomas Boudat (Arkea-Samsic) and Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels) after a 30-man group came to the line at the end of 4½ hours of action. There were no Irish riders in the race.
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