The Faun Drôme Classic had a thrilling finale — Romain Grégoire came out on top after a tense duel with Matteo Jorgenson in the final kilometres. A select group was hot on their heels on the last narrow, steep pitch, but Grégoire made his move with 200 m to go, taking the win, with the American just hanging on for second ahead of a surging Lenny Martinez.
Walton on the move
Earlier, though, it was once again Canadian Jonas Walton (CIC Pro Cycling Academy) animating the race with his third long breakaway in as many weeks. On Saturday, the chrono specialist spent just under 100 km off the front, 99 km in total, before being caught. A week earlier, at Classic Var, he was away for 137 km before being reeled in with just five to go. At the Tour de la Provence, he logged 120 km out front. But Saturday, he said, was different.
“It felt like another level I’ve never been in before. I was pushing hard on the front, but it seemed just as hard on the wheels,” he said. “But it was a good learning experience and I am eager to try it again.”
Big gear king
The 21-year-old, son of Olympic silver medallist Brian and masters world champion Dana, said he seems to have inherited something that may be a blessing or a curse.
“My coach is giving me leg-speed workouts on my easy days and it’s still low,” he said. “My dad calls it the Walton curse.”
(As an aside, for someone who rode a lot with…erm, behind, Jonas’s dad, it’s true the former pro pushed very big gears. But he was also very, very fast.)
The race gradually wore down the field over a relentless series of climbs, but it was the steep Mur d’Allex that truly split things apart. Grégoire and Jorgenson accelerated together on the 600-m wall (on a very narrow road), quickly opening a meaningful gap as hesitation stalled the chase behind.
Entering the final kilometre side by side, Grégoire sat patiently on Jorgenson’s wheel before launching late. His acceleration proved decisive, while Martinez led the chasers home just seconds back.
Walton has a few more races before some time off.
“This upcoming weekend I have the Tour des 100 Communes and then the Grand Prix de Lillers. Then I’ll finally have a good two- to three-week break. I think this upcoming weekend will make it four in a row for me,” he said.
Maybe he’ll be in the early break again. But one of these days, he’ll be the winner. You’ll see.