A breakaway group to the west of the main peloton have profited in extra breeze getting across the little front first and so the first stage of the 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec has a new leader in Philippe Hartz (Marine National-Gican). He leads this little unit by half a mile but most importantly they are downwind in the new NW’ly first and making around 8-11kts compared with the main fleet which is still 52 miles to the east and making two to four knots less.
Previous leader Alexis Loison(GROUPE REEL) has plummeted to 26th holding an easterly option. The westerly choice might be good for the moment but the danger is that the new high pressure ridge arrives from the west and they will get swallowed by it first.
Pep Costa (VSF Sports) is up to fourth place positioned well in this main pack whilst Ireland’s Tom Dolan has taken a bit of a hit and is down in 20th. But bear in mind that group in the west are also sailing more distance. Nonetheless there is a lot still to happen over the final 200 miles into Gijón. Swiss rookie Anaiëlle Pattusch (Nemo) is 25th, 11th Bizuth.
On the Défi Paprec England’s Ellie Driver and David Paul (Chilli Pepper) are fifth.