Watch: Damien Gaudin’s crazy Tro-Bro Léon victory celebration
Customary piglet appears to have been missing from the podium ceremony
Damien Gaudin (Equipe Cycliste Armée de Terre) who was fifth at the 2013 edition of Paris-Roubaix has won the 2017 Tro-Bro Léon. The race that uses unpaved gravel farm tracks, called ribinoù, in Brittany on the north-west coast of France and has affectionately been known as Le Petit Paris-Roubaix. The race has gained international attention in recent years because of it’s unique Breton character and unpredictable racing. Taking place along windswept coastline and tackling over 30 km of rough unpaved road the race is selective. Canadian Ryan Roth won the race in 2012.
Gaudin and Frederik Backaert (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) escaped with a long way still to race in the 34the edition of the 204 km race. Their gap to a chase group was hovering around 30 seconds in the final kilometres with the catch looking possible but not a certainty. The two escapees worked cohesively together digging very deep in the final kilometres and managed to hold their gap to the line.
https://twitter.com/wcstats/status/853979654595772417
The two ended up holding on for the win by 7-seconds on a chase that was lead in by Benjamin Giraud (Delko Marseille Provence KTM). Gaudin had a much stronger sprint than Backaert and took one off the biggest wins of his career. His celebration was something special.
Célébration géniale de @DamDamGaudin ??? #TroBroLeon pic.twitter.com/DY922re4KQ
— Eurosport.fr (@Eurosport_FR) April 17, 2017
Gaudin waved his hands in the air and his tongue wildly crossing the line after another great edition of the race which perhaps has the best race posters on the pro cycling calendar.
The prizes were also quite unique with Gaudin winning Celtic trophys, Backaert winning blown glass from the region and Giraud winning a giant painting of a lighthouse. The piglet that is customarily awarded to the top placed Briton appeared to, however, be absent. It is unclear if it was awarded after the broadcast finished.
Some great prizes at #trobroleon – Gaudin has also been given a painting of a lighthouse on the back of an old door.. ? pic.twitter.com/MTj0WXx78m
— Ian (@cyclingbetting) April 17, 2017
