The stage victory for Eric Peron
The finish of this 4th stage of 500 miles in the English Channel is similar to what we expect from an Urgo Le Figaro Solitaire. While the first races were marked by colossal gaps, Dieppe's arrivals quickly followed one another: 38 seconds gap between the first two, 20 skippers in less than 30 minutes.
On this stage between Morlaix Bay and Dieppe, the conditions will have been varied. From the fast downwind, to England, the finasseries of Cornouaille, a return to the Cotentin, still swallowed under spinnaker for a general grouping under the brand of Saint Marcouf then the calm.
From the Isle of Wight, Eric Peron (French Touch) was leading the fleet before his pursuers came back last night. During this nerve-wracking night, led by Yann Eliès (St Michel), Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) and Corentin Douguet (NF Habitat) succeeded the leader.
The last 80 miles will have been a fierce battle with tack changes off the coast of Alabaster in a steady NE'ly wind of over 20 knots, choppy seas and a sun that was finally deigning to rise in the vicinity of Dieppe.
But the skipper of French Touch held on and won in the last few meters, followed just 40 seconds later by the skipper of Banque Populaire. Corentin Douguet (NF Habitat) completes the podium of the stage.
" It was long and I'm really happy because I really went to get it. That's what it took to end up on this Solitaire. It was hard nervously, but I remained calm when I lost all my advance and gradually it came back, I crossed just in front of Armel (Le Cléac'h). I am super proud after this first stage victory. We had all the conditions with light airs, strong winds, we had to keep on going with a rather incomprehensible weather situation" explains Eric Peron.
The overall victory for Yoann Richomme
Fourth in Dieppe, the skipper of Hellowork Telegram Group scored twice in this race, which he had already won in 2016. For his 8th participation announced late, Yoann Richomme has gained a comfortable lead over many of the heavyweights on the circuit, thanks to his victory on the first stage. And yet, Gildas Mahé (Breizh Cola Equi'Thé) came back at one o'clock in his painting at the end of the third stage
In the provisional overall classification, Yoann Richomme is ahead of Gildas Mahé who has made a superb comeback to the top level after his first failed stage. And finally it was Anthony Marchand (Groupe Royer Secours Populaire), also unfortunate at Kinsale, but winner of the third stage, who completed the podium in the overall classification, he was still fourth at the start of Roscoff behind Alexis Loison (Normandy Region).
" I sailed relaxed throughout the stage and as a result, I had a lot of fun. It was almost the only real stage typical of Figaro with a very grouped fleet, changes of leader all the time and I really wanted to do this one of course to prove that I deserved this Solitaire. It's huge, I'm very moved, I never dreamed of winning two, let alone this one. The story is beautiful and I hope it will continue. Two months ago, I was wondering how I was going to be in the first place. In six months, I've won two races with the Route du Rhum, it's incredible.
When I left the other night with "Rico" (Eric Péron) to the Isle of Wight coast, I thought to myself, "Now you've put everything in the balance, if you miss, you take two hours and it's over". And at the same time, I wanted to sail as I like to do and to allow myself to be hit. In the end, the scenario unfolded on its own. I knew there was power at the coast, but I didn't want to stay south in the soft. In the end, we had a nice visit of the pointe Sainte Catherine, it was magnificent!
The first time I won in 2016, Charlie and I had been working hard all season with Charlie, it was different. This year, the plateau is more challenging, the equation was more complicated for me and this victory has a different flavor. At the same time, it took me three years to realize that I won the first one, so here I am now for three years."
