One of the most impressive performances in Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo was that of the Frenchman Yoann Offredo, who attacked out of the lead group after the Cipressa and was part of a four man break which brought the race onto the Poggio. Although he was caught by several of the big guns behind and had clearly done more in the finale, he still had the zip and character to attack inside the final three kilometres of the race in a bid to take the victory.
Fabian Cancellara himself brought him back, in what is perhaps a recognition of the 24 year old FDJ rider’s strength.
Twelve months ago Offredo was also on the attack in La Primavera, going clear on the descent of the Cipressa and staying clear for ten kilometres. He was reeled in on the Poggio and had to be satisfied with 17th place.
He’s clearly got character and ambition, and showed his growing strength earlier this year when he was fourth in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
His directeur sportif Marc Madiot believes in his capabilities, and thinks that it will pay off sooner or later. “One day, it will happen. In a very important race, or less so,” he told the Voix des Sports. Once he gets a pro win under his belt, its reasonable to expect that things will continue to flow.
“He did what he should have done,” said Madiot, speaking about the Milan-Sanremo finale. “When you attack with two kilometres [from the finish], that doesn’t depend only on you, it depends mainly on the reactions of the others.”
Indeed, while Offredo was closed down by Cancellara, the manner of his attack and the way he moved clear of the front group showed that he was still strong in the finale. He rode like a big contender, and will aim to do something big in the weeks ahead.
He will next compete in the GP Waregem, although Madiot doesn’t want him to go too deep so that he fully recovers from the 298 kilometre Sanremo race. He will then ride either the GP E3 on Saturday or Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday. The Three Days of De Panne will act as his tune-up for the Tour of Flanders on April 3.
Madiot was a very successful Classics rider, taking Paris-Roubaix in 1985 and 1991, and also winning the French national championship plus a stage of the Tour de France. He knows the sport well, and believes that his young rider has ability.
“This is a guy who goes for it, who loves it, and who can do it without wasting energy,” he said. “In Classics like Milan-San Remo or the Flandrian ones, that is essential.
“In terms of his temperament and his physical aspects, he is a true Classics rider. Physically, he can still improve, if we see his disrupted build-up to Milan-San Remo. He’d a crash in Qatar and a modest showing in Paris-Nice,” he said, referring to his abandonment from the race due to a crash and to gastroenteritis. “At the same time, I wonder if he isn’t stronger when his back is against the wall.”
Offredo has several weeks ahead to show his strength once more. He looks set to be a regular sight in the sport’s toughest one day events and, as Madiot suggests, a good win is overdue.