Romain Grégoire came close to securing his second victory of the season in Lissone on Sunday. After a lively Coppa Agostoni race, where he and his teammates made a significant impact, the young rider from Besançon ultimately finished in second place after a sprint with three other riders, narrowly beaten by Marc Hirschi. With this being his fifth podium of the season, the French puncher is gearing up for the Trois Vallées Varésines on Tuesday.
The race in Lombardy promised to be a rollercoaster of a day around Lissone. The 168-kilometer course was challenging, with only the first twenty and last thirty kilometers being flat. The rest of the route consisted of a hilly circuit to be repeated four times, including consecutive climbs of Sirtori (1.5 km at 5.6%), Colle Brianza (3.7 km at 6.3%), and Lissolo (2 km at 6.6%). Romain Grégoire mentioned, “We expected a fast and intense race from the start. The whole team approached the race well, and when a big group of about twenty riders formed, I didn’t hesitate to join.” Team manager Thierry Bricaud added, “There was a small breakaway with Rémy followed by a larger group with Romain and Lorenzo. Most of the strong riders were there, except for Marc Hirschi.”
The Groupama-FDJ team tried to make the most of the race situation. Romain commented, “It was an ideal situation for us because we had outsmarted the big UAE Team Emirates team, which was our main concern this morning. Collectively, we did well. We took control, especially with Lorenzo leading the group for a significant part of the race to maintain our advantage. It’s the way I like to race, with guys around me at the front, taking charge. It gives me confidence and an extra boost for the finale.”
The race dynamics shifted when Marc Hirschi caught up with the front group in the penultimate lap. Romain acknowledged, “On a course like this, it’s all about the legs, and Hirschi managed to make a move in the middle of the race.” About thirty riders entered the final lap in the lead, and Rémy Rochas immediately attacked with four other riders. Thierry explained, “The strategy was to always have an advantage to aim for the win, keep someone ahead to avoid chasing, and provide a relay for Romain if needed. That’s what happened, the guys showed a lot of determination.”
In the final climbs, Hirschi made a decisive move, and only three riders, including Romain Grégoire, managed to keep up. The group reformed before the last ascent, and then the Swiss favorite attacked again at the foot of the climb. The four riders broke away, including Paul Lapeira and Alex Aranburu. Thierry emphasized, “We knew Romain would be strong on the pedals.” The quartet reached the summit with a lead over the competition and temporarily became a trio.
Although Aranburu momentarily fell behind, he caught up in the descent, and the leading group engaged in a pursuit for about thirty kilometers. Their advantage initially exceeded a minute but dropped to twenty seconds. Thierry explained, “The four had some sprinting capabilities, so they hesitated a bit, allowing the chasing group to come closer. Romain remained composed. The issue was the last 35 kilometers were not challenging. Lapeira had two teammates behind him and played on that, not wanting to lead. Aranburu showed his limits and didn’t push too hard. Hirschi and Romain wanted to go all the way. They didn’t want the chasing group to catch up, knowing they were strong, so they gave a little extra effort.”
Romain made a few attempts in the final kilometers, but Hirschi remained vigilant. Aranburu tried a move in the last three kilometers, but the quartet regrouped for a small sprint finish. Romain reflected, “I think I maneuvered well in the sprint. Aranburu launched early, then Lapeira, and I followed Hirschi’s wheel at 400-500m. I just had to overtake him, but he was slightly stronger.” Despite finishing second, Romain felt satisfied with his performance, saying, “I believe I can be content with my race. I think I did well, and I don’t have many regrets, although I’m naturally disappointed not to win.”
Thierry praised Romain’s progress this season, noting that while he hasn’t won much, the second-place finish is still a significant achievement. The focus now shifts to the upcoming races, with the goal of securing a victory before the season ends. The competition continues, and Romain remains determined to make his mark on the remaining races.
