In the lead from the first night of the first leg of the Solitaire du Figaro 2020, Xavier Macaire crossed the finish line in victory this Thursday 3rd September at 06h 17'55. At the age of 39, he has finally secured his first stage victory in the race. In 2015 and 2016, the skipper of Groupe SNEF had already won twice in Dieppe and La Rochelle before suffering a penalty and being downgraded.
In the lead since Monday 31st August on this return leg between the Bay of Saint-Brieuc and the Irish Fastnet lighthouse, he has been able to keep his rivals at bay, especially during the final miles ahead of Saint-Quay-Portrieux. As a result, Loïs Berrehar (Bretagne CMB Performance) finished on the second place of the podium 1.35 min behind Xavier Macaire and Alexis Loison (Normandy Region) on the third step, 7.03 min after the first. The finish was breathtaking, as only 5 miles separated the top 30 as they approached the line.
"What a soulagement?! The finish was quite tense, because the closer we got to the line, the more the wind died down, I saw my friends coming closer and closer, I was really afraid of having this victory stolen from me right on the line. It's been a long time that I've been waiting for this victory, that I saw the little friends blowing up the jeroboam, I wondered if I'd ever make it, I'd won twice before I was downgraded on the jury, this time, it's for me, for vrai?!" explained the winner at the finish.
If Xavier Macaire is the leader in the general, nothing is decided. The gaps on this first stage are tiny. Indeed, the top ten are held in 20 minutes, 35 minutes separating the winner from 20th Anthony Marchand (Groupe Royer - Secours Populaire).
