Although the best French rider in yesterday’s men’s road race, Sylvain Chavanel, finished back in twentieth place, French selector Laurent Jalabert has said that he doesn't fault his riders for how the race played out.
The narrow roads and relatively short climb on the Box Hill circuit meant that the race ended up being far more tactical than many envisaged, and while Chavanel made it into the winning break, he was out-numbered and out-manoeuvred.
He finished in the chasing bunch eight seconds behind the winner Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) and runner-up Rigoberto Uran (Colombia).
“I am happy with the riders, I don’t have to reproach anybody,” former world number one Jalabert told AFP, while also admitting that he had hoped for a better result.
“Sylvain [Chavanel] was very good on the circuit, Tony [Gallopin] waited for a counter attack and missed the boat. The small disappointment is that he came very close [to making it], just ten metres from the Cancellara group which was returning [to the front].
“Cancellara did a huge pull and he stayed there. If not, it would have been a better placing at the finish.”
Arnaud Demare was next best of the French riders in 30th place, while Tony Gallopin was 85th.
Chavanel will compete in the time trial on Wednesday, where he will have an outside chance of a medal. He has recovered well after being forced out of the Tour de France due to illness.