Video: Groupama retain Tour de France a la Voile lead

Franck Cammas, skippering Groupama 34, wins Monday’s offshore race from Lorient to St Gilles Croix de Vie in the Tour de France a la Voile to extend their overall lead in the standings.

It was an early start for the competitors in the in the Tour de France a la Voile on Monday.

Crews assembled at 4am and slipped anchor to set off on the latest offshore leg, a 135 kilometre run from Lorient to St Gilles Croix de Vie.

Groupama 34, skippered by Franck Cammas was the craft to beat, but the leaders in the overall standings were not in the mood to let their advantage slip.

With no chance of a dramatic dash to the finish, it was all about fighting for the slightest whiff of extra breeze.

Cammas called it perfectly and although it was almost eight in the evening by the time they reached the finish line, Groupama took the honours.

Bretagne Credit Mutuel Elite, with Nicolas Troussel at the helm, were a minute behind, followed swiftly by Daniel Souben and his Courrier Dunkerque 3.

That was how the podium shaped up – there was little movement in the overall picture, but Bretagne Credit Mutuel Elite did overhaul Sodebo to move into second place behind Groupama.

Two technical courses are scheduled for Tuesday at St Gilles Croix de Vie, before the fleet head off to the Mediterranean and the finish in Marseille.