The 40th edition of the TPC en Nouvelle-Aquitaine closed exactly as it had opened, namely with a victory by Milan Fretin. Just as in the opening stage, the Belgian sprinter from Cofidis left everyone behind in the sprint, clearly winning the Saint-Symphorien-Poitiers stage of 185.5 kilometers ahead of Hodei Muñoz (Euskaltel – Euskadi) and his teammate Ion Izagirre.

Together with him, at the end of today's effort, also celebrated Maxime Decomble (Groupama FDJ United) who, having placed a significant mortgage on the final victory with his impressive performance in yesterday's individual time trial, brought home the overall classification victory with a margin of 33 seconds over Danish rider Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Decathlon CMA CGM) and 44 seconds over the 2025 edition winner Samuel Leroux (TotalEnergies).

THE RACE

The stage was characterized by a breakaway that formed after about fifty kilometers from the start, featuring Diego Pablo Sevilla Lopez (Team Polti VisitMalta), Victor Papon (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur), Antoine Berger (St-Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93), Kévin Avoine, Clément Dubois (Van Rysel-Roubaix), Noah Bögli (Elite Fondations Cycling Team) and Max Nielsen (Lucky Sport Cycling Team). After climbing the Côte de Maldaccord and Côte de Saint-Georges-lès-Baillargeaux (both won by polka dot jersey wearer Papon), the seven riders approached the final Poitiers circuit with approximately one and a half minutes advantage, where the peloton gradually closed the gap by increasing the pace.

With just over 20 seconds remaining five kilometers from the finish, the breakaway riders saw their agreement dissolve with Papon and Berger's attack which, at the 4 km mark, was caught from behind by Antoine L'Hote, Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Daniel Årnes (Van Rysel-Roubaix). The five riders, with a seven-second advantage over the peloton, continued to dream of victory until the final hundreds of meters when the group caught them, allowing Milan Fretin (Cofidis) to outsprint Hodei Muñoz (Euskaltel – Euskadi) and his teammate Ion Izagirre. Just behind them, Dario Igor Belletta (Polti VisitMalta) secured an eighth place that earned him not only the title of best Italian of the day but also that of best-placed Italian in a single stage throughout the entire race.

The race, in general terms, saw Maxime Decomble (Groupama - FDJ United) celebrate and emerge as the absolute protagonist, who, having moved this season among the cycling elite, achieved his first two professional victories in 48 hours, becoming, at 21 years and 43 days old, the second-youngest winner in the history of TPC en Nouvelle-Aquitaine behind Pavel Tonkov (1st in 1989 at 20 years and 202 days).

STAGE RESULTS

1. Milan Fretin (Cofidis) 3:56:06

2. Hodei Muñoz (Euskaltel - Euskadi) s.t.

3. Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) s.t.

4. Samuel Leroux (TotalEnergies) s.t.

5. Ronan Augé (Unibet Rose Rockets) s.t.

6. Brody McDonald (Van Rysel Roubaix) s.t.

7. Killian Théot (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) s.t.

8. Dario Igor Belletta (Team Polti VisitMalta) s.t.

9. Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) s.t.

10. Niek Voogt (Azerion / Villa Valkenburg) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Maxime Decomble (Groupama - FDJ United) 13:41:22

2. Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +0:33

3. Samuel Leroux (TotalEnergies) +0:44

4. Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel - Euskadi) +0:50

5. Leo Hayter (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) +0:53

6. Wessel Mouris (Unibet Rose Rockets) +0:56

7. Ion Izagirre (Cofidis) s.t.

8. Niklas Larsen (Unibet Rose Rockets) +0:58

9. Daniel Årnes (Van Rysel Roubaix) +1:12

10. Stefan de Bod (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) s.t.

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Milan Fretin (Cofidis)

Mountain classification: Victor Papon (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur)

Best young rider classification: Maxime Decomble (Groupama FDJ United)

Best team: Groupama FDJ United

Photo credit: Xavier Pereyron/LNC