An unforgettable day in the Vendée department for the 18-year-old.
Simon Defrance’s dream season continued this weekend, when he conquered the French Nationals held in Chantonnay. The most successful rider of Soudal Quick-Step U19 in 2026, with five wins to his name before Sunday, was prominent in all the main moves of the 130.2km race that took in a hilly and selective course.
Numerous moves came from the very beginning, but the peloton pulled hard to keep things together. Under the constant pressure that came from those who went all-in, the bunch eventually fragmented, leaving several groups scattered all over the road. Eight men put some distance into the others and carried a good gap going into the final 50 kilometers, when the race exploded.
A group of 17 men attacked from the bunch, and Simon was there. The Frenchman then forced a selection, taking two riders with him and catching the leaders with 35 kilometers to go. The newly-formed front group immediately saw an opportunity and began working together, taking their margin to more than half a minute. At the foot of Côte du Champ du Loup, some of the leaders accelerated but the group remained as one and continued like this under the flamme rouge.
The final 500 meters were on an uphill drag, but Simon still had enough left after this intense day of racing to outsprint his opponents and power to one of his biggest wins of the year.
It’s a win I’ll always remember.
- Simon Defrance -
“It was a course for puncheurs, featuring two back-to-back climbs with steep gradients, though neither was very long. I rode a perfect race from a tactical point of view, avoiding wasting effort and staying with the right group the whole time. In the finale, I sprinted really well to take the win and I’m proud of my performance, because it’s every rider’s dream to win this beautiful jersey”, Simon explained after his victory.
