Return on victory 2008 UK

Today G4 returns to Geoffroy Lequatre’s victory in UK in 2008.
2008 was a good year in my career. After a good first half of the season and a successful Tour de France, and a good break, the end of the season was interesting and full of challenge.

The Tour of Britain is looming with the Agritubel team. Victorious the year before with Romain Feuillu in 2007, the team came to the promised land without pressure. A great team at the start, Nicolas Vogondy his jersey of Champion of France / Romain Feillu yellow jersey Tour 2008 / Freddy Bichot / Emilien Benoit Berges / Steven Caethoven and myself.

It was as well, something very special for me, as I had designed the casual clothing for the team, for the Tour de France until the end of the year. This meant that I was wearing the clothing that I had designed myself in the evening, and wearing the yellow jersey during the race! First line designate for the team! very proud at night to be able to put clothes that I have designer . The yellow jersey the day and designer clothes by me at night!

2008 RUNNING MEMORY

In 2008 the departure of London was majestic, with a criterium in London opening this Tour in the streets and in front of the most prestigious monuments.

After 2 stages promised to the sprinter, Petacchi and Mathieu Goss, the 3rd stage is tougher for the riders,with some sporty weather and rainy and fog which accompanies us.

This day the exceptional sensations were wonderful, with my emotions high, it was to be the best day of my life! I finally escape alone and take more than 7min on the pack, that leaves a single man to burn their legs. except that this day it felt like I do not touch the pedals!

After a big fight of the peloton, a group of 7 riders join me at 25kms of the finish, which my teammate Emilien Benoit banks. The rest of the pack will arrive at more than 25min!

Having collected all the bonuses during the day, Emilien Benoit Berges drove the last 10 KM to take me to a promised yellow jersey. Nobody wants to relay us, so I let Emilien ride and no one takes his wheel and take it seriously, he goes to victory and wins the stage with 30s in advance. With the strength of this incredible feeling, I rule the group in sprint after a memorable day, 1st and second of the stage and the general! An evening more than fantastic!

We set off the next day to defend the jersey of Emilien, 20km from the arrival, Emilien is a victim of punctures front and rear wheel during the most crucial moment, and I finish 9th of the stage behind a talented young runner, Edvald Bosson Haggen and I take the leader’s jersey! Then we know the rest! We held the house as they say! Every day remaining team is surpassed, strategically we were strong and physically as well!

My main rival was Steve Cummings, who is a good guy and a good all day cyclist with power throughout – what a fight on the road for bonus sprints! I won Tour of Britain and was euphoric – in Liverpool, 6 ” ahead of the Tour of Britain 2008, 8 days of racing, the most beautiful victory of my career! The most beautiful sporting moment for me, but also emotionally amazing, and with the feeling of having lived a perfect bike week, where everything rolls and everything opens and is done naturally.

Thanks to this team that was solid and with quality teammates, Néné, reigning wearing the French champion jersey, Romain, Yellow Jersey on the Tour 2008, ‘La biche’ – dedicated and talented teammate, Emilien a rolling machine, and Steven one of the best flahute and sprinter.

After this amazing race and experience, my aim was to come back in 2009 season and win again the Tour of Britain again. After a long 2009 season, September approached and feel excited to race this course again, I wanted to celebrate and perpetuate this most beautiful moment in my career with the number 1 on my back. I had to do something special, my passion for the designer and style was recognized in the cycling world, with my first line of casual clothes designed for the team “AGRITUBEL” – Black and Turquoise Blue color! the big class once you are off the bike and remove the helmet!

I designed and paint my helmet in the color of the Union Jack and create special socks for the event to adorn this same colour.

I’m riding like crazy to win this Tour in 2009, but finally finished 7th overall!  It was then that I realized that I would like to develop a brand! The G4 launch project was in check, and would keep me occupied in many ways!