The 2019 Tour Voile was decided in the last seconds of the final race!
This Sunday, during the Super Final in Nice, the superb duel between Team Beijaflore and Cheminées Poujoulat was resolved.
For the latter team, which was trailing by 5 points before this ultimate race, the situation was clear: to win the Tour, they absolutely had to finish ahead of the Beijaflore men, with at least two boats between them.
On board Cheminées Poujoulat, Robin Follin, Gaulthier Germain, and Antoine Rucard perfectly executed their plan and dominated the Super Final almost from start to finish.
Impressively, they were not the masters of their fate.
Behind them, Valentin Bellet, Guillaume Pirouelle, and Valentin Sipan gave it their all to avoid finishing beyond 3rd place, which would have meant losing the Tour. Up to the last mark, Beijaflore was in a disadvantageous position.
However, when they arrived at the final buoy on starboard tack, thus having the right of way, they managed to slip inside, overtake three competitors, and finish 2nd behind Cheminées Poujoulat!
Beijaflore, the triumph of consistency
3rd in 2017, 2nd in 2018, Team Beijaflore this year climbed the final step leading to victory. Valentin Bellet, Guillaume Pirouelle, Valentin Sipan, Julien Villion, and Arnaud Jarlegan took the lead from the second day in Dunkirk. Despite the pressure from their pursuers, particularly from Cheminées Poujoulat, they demonstrated remarkable serenity, mental strength, and consistency. Over 15 days, they won two stages and finished on the podium 10 times. Their worst result was a 7th place finish.
Cheminées Poujoulat, a magnificent 2nd place
As a major player in the Tour Voile, Cheminées Poujoulat won four stages, including the last three! Though it wasn’t enough, Robin Follin, Gaulthier Germain, Antoine Rucard, and Virgil Aubriot, despite being disappointed this evening, can leave with a sense of accomplishment. Winners of the Young Classification and on the overall podium, this team managed by Bernard Stamm achieved all their objectives.
A second consecutive podium for Team Réseau Ixio – Toulon Provence Méditerranée, a Top 5 of high quality
Sandro Lacan, Tim Mourniac, Jules Bidegaray, and Achille Nebout (accompanied by Kevin Peponnet at the start of the Tour) finished on the podium of the Tour Voile, having won two stages (the Coastal Raid in Fécamp and the Nautical Stadiums of Jullouville).
Overall Ranking:
1 Team Beijaflore – 765 pts
2 Cheminées Poujoulat – 762 pts
3 Réseau Ixio – Toulon Provence Méditerranée – 729 pts
4 Golfe du Morbihan Breizh Cola – 719 pts
5 Renaissance Services – 711 pts
