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Audrey Cordon-Ragot raced a picture-perfect time trial to score her seventh French national TT title.
Her ninth jersey in total, the 34-year-old will again be resplendent in the tricolore having taken a commanding victory on the 35.2km route in Normandy.
“It was very special,” Cordon-Ragot said after. “I was surrounded by all of my family and friends so it was very special to be with all of them. This is my last national time trial so I really wanted to win it and end on the perfect note.”
Cordon-Ragot flew atop the supremely aerodynamic Factor HANZŌ, cutting through the air at an average speed of 41.78 km/h (26 mph) to win in a time of 50’3”, 50 seconds over second place. Much of her impressive performance is down to a bike position that has been meticulously calculated and worked on since the turn of the year.
She will aim to make it the perfect ten on Saturday as she goes in the road race, a 125.7km parcours with 2,095 meters of climbing.
“I feel much more relaxed now I’ve won the time trial,” says Cordon-Ragot. “I go there with a lot of motivation but I know it will be hard as a single rider so I have to think a little bit more about how I’m going to play it. I’ve raced like this in the past so I know I can do it.”
National Championships France WE – ITT results
1 CORDON-RAGOT Audrey – Human Powered Health 0:50:33
2 KERBAOL Cédrine – CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:54
3 BORRAS Marion – St Michel – Mavic – Auber93 WE 1:33
4 SQUIBAN Maëva – Arkéa – B&B Hotels Women 1:45
5 LE NET Marie – FDJ – SUEZ 1:52
6 MAHÉ Océane – Arkéa – B&B Hotels Women 2:50
7 FOURMIGUÉ Chloé – Cynisca Cycling 4:04
8 DEMAY Coralie – FDJ – SUEZ 4:33
9 ALLIN Pauline – Cynisca Cycling ”
10 BEGO Julie – Cofidis Women Team 4:42
