2026 Faun Drôme Classic (1.Pro), France

Faun Drôme Classic podium history | Course map & profile | Start list | 2025 edition

Etoile sur Rhone - Etoile sur Rhone, 189 km

The race is clearly Romain Grégoire's. Photo: Getty Images Sport

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Weather at the start/finish city of Etoile sur Rhone at 2:35 PM, local time: 16C (60F), sunny, with the wind from the north at 8 km/hr (5 mph). No rain is forecast.

The race: Here's the report from winner Romain Grégoire's Team Groupama-FDJ United.

The Romain Grégoire machine is up and running. Although his season had only started about ten days ago, the Frenchman was already eager to raise his arms in victory. That moment came this Sunday at the Faun Drôme Classic, after an aggressive race and a thrilling final. On the finishing climb, he dropped his last remaining rival, Matteo Jorgenson, and held off the peloton to claim his first win of the season — also the third for Groupama-FDJ United.

The day after the Faun Ardèche Classic, the Faun Drôme Classic offered a slightly less demanding course around Étoile-sur-Rhône, though a hilly and explosive final awaited the riders. Seven climbs of varying length were packed inside the final sixty kilometers, including the Col de la Grande Limite and several short “walls.” Before that, the peloton experienced a relatively calm day behind a seven-man breakaway, which was eventually reeled in on the race’s main climb.

“We knew the climbers’ teams would push the pace on the Grande Limite, and that’s exactly what happened,” explained Benoît Vaugrenard. “The three strongest climbers went clear, but the teams that weren’t represented started chasing, which played into our hands. It regrouped on the Côte des Roberts, then a group of twelve riders went clear with Romain.” “I had a few doubts at the start of the race, but on the Grande Limite I was actually feeling pretty good and thought there might be something to go for,” said the Frenchman. He came over the top with the main favorites, and although Davide Piganzoli briefly managed to go clear, everything came back together after the Côte de Grane, twenty kilometres from the finish.

“There were three Visma-Lease a Bike riders, so we absolutely had to look at them. We knew it would split again, and Romain played it perfectly,” Benoît added. The French puncheur jumped onto Matteo Jorgenson’s wheel with seventeen kilometers to go, and the duo immediately opened a good gap. “When Matteo went, I didn’t hesitate for a second,” Romain said. “I found myself with a strong rouleur and in the perfect position to go for the win. From that moment, the legs felt much better! There was no more room for doubt, almost like magic.”

The American and the Groupama-FDJ United rider worked seamlessly together, maintaining an advantage of nearly forty seconds while tackling the short climbs of the Mur d’Allex and the Plateau de Soulier before the nine flat kilometers leading to the final ascent. “They’re both strong rouleurs — the key was not to look at each other too much in the final kilometre,” Benoît pointed out. Under the flamme rouge, the pair still held twenty seconds over a fast-closing peloton on the uphill drag to the line.

Yet Grégoire kept his composure. “I didn’t look back once in the final kilometre, and I didn’t know exactly where the peloton was,” he said. “I was just focused on the line and going for the win.” With 250 meters to go, the bunch was only a few seconds behind when he launched his final acceleration, dropping Jorgenson right away. “Even though the gap was coming down, I know how explosive Romain is, so I was very confident,” Benoît assured. “He handled it perfectly and showed great control in the final kilometre.” “Jorgenson is no ordinary rider, but the final suited me,” Romain added. “I was feeling confident. I was afraid he might go hard from the bottom of the climb, but it turned into more of a waiting game, and I was able to launch my punchy effort just the way I know and like to do. It was only when I looked back with 100 meters to go and saw Lenny next to Matteo that I realized how close it was. It was really tight — but just enough.” Dominant in the final few hundred metres, Grégoire was able to take the last corner 75 meters from the line calmly before fully enjoying his great success.

This first victory in the 2026 season carried particular significance for the young rider. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to win today,” he admitted. “I had some doubts after yesterday’s race and the start of the season. The legs didn’t feel amazing, but my teammates never stopped believing in me. They kept trusting me, that gave me confidence, and it paid off. This victory is exactly what I needed. I think it will do everyone good and can launch a positive momentum. It’s very important to raise your arms early in the season. I dreamed all week of winning here after adding the Ardèche Classic to my record last year. Now it’s done, and I’m very happy.”“We took a beating on Saturday and were understandably disappointed,” Benoît concluded. “But we had to bounce back, and we were hungry for revenge. We know Romain’s qualities — the qualities of a great champion. When he’s hurt, he’s got the pride to respond. That’s what he showed today in a tactically perfect race. For the team, it was also important to make amends. This victory is very important for what’s to come.”