Dan McLay won the final stage of Circuit Cycliste Sarthe – Pays de la Loire on Friday which marked his first victory for EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale. The Briton made it look easy, crossing the finish line in Sablé with a bike length on Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R La Mondiale) and Marc Sarreau (Groupama – FDJ).
“It’s good to go into a short break and training period with the winning feeling,” said McLay after taking the third win of the season for EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale
McLay’s team-mate Logan Owen was part of a five-rider escape that slipped away shortly after the peloton rolled out of Brûlon for the 189-kilometre stage. Five became three after the first intermediate sprint at kilometre 28.
Owen spent the next two hours ahead of the bunch with Perrig Quemeneur (Direct Energie) and Jetse Bol (Manzana Postobon). The trio stretched out their advantage to 3’45 before the Trek-led peloton tightened the leash. Owen’s work afforded his teammates an easier ride in the peloton as no one looked to EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale to chase.
A mechanical took Owen out of the breakaway before the race entered the stage four finishing circuit for six times around the 12.5-kilometre lap. The peloton caught Qasim and Bol on the final lap and a big bunch came to the line to contest the stage.
“The team set me up well by putting me in the front for the narrow roads and I could save some energy,” said McLay. “In the last couple of kilometres, I could follow some other teams and I passed the corners without too much problem. I started the sprint with good legs.”
“There is no better feeling than helping your teammate come away with the victory,” Owen added. “It was a great day for the team.”
Frenchman Guillaume (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) won the race overall ahead of team-mate Xandro Meurisse (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) with Justin Jules (WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic) finishing third.
