[Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish, Mats Pedersen, Filippo Ganna, and Elia Viviani were among the big names in the peloton that returned to the Sarthe circuit after a two-year absence.

Groupama-FDJ climber Tibor Pinot was another big name who received a warm welcome in Mamel.

Pinot's last appearance in northwestern France, the battleground of French cycling, was at the start of the 2016 Tour de France in Normandy. The Sarthe circuit will help him move on to his next goal in the spring.

"It's a good race, so I'm here and I can gear up for the next season," Pinot told Cycling News before the start of the first stage.

"I haven't raced since Tirreno-Adriatico in mid-March, so the Sarthe circuit is in a good place on the calendar. four days of racing will help me get back into a rhythm. I need the race in my legs."

"With the number on my back," he continued, "the goal is to win races, whether it's for the team or for myself. [There is also the option of a sprint race with Paul [Penhoet] and Bram [Welten]. I would be happy to help them. If I can be part of the mix on some stages, I want to go for it. My goal is to be at 100% at the start of the Tour de France.

Pinot, who suffered a setback in mid-February when fatigue set in after his third COVID-19 vaccination, finished eighth overall in Tirreno-Adriatico and gradually returned to racing, encouraged by a long layoff due to back problems.

"Tirreno-Adriatico was almost the beginning of my resurgence.

"I hadn't had such a great feeling on the climbs since the Criterium du Dauphiné in 2020 (finishing second behind Dani Martinez).

"It was a good sign. It felt good to push like I used to. I'm pretty optimistic about the rest of the season. The Tour de Alps and the Tour de Romandie are clear goals for me. They are two of my most beautiful races."

The 31-year-old Pinot won the former in 2018, and in Romandie he won two stages as well as the youth class, although he has not raced in Switzerland since 2016.

"My morale is high because I've found myself again. Now I want to win mountain races, whatever the category."

Pinot's last victory came in the 2019 Tour de France, stage 14, Col du Tourmalet. Since then, he has been plagued by health and physical issues; after missing out in 2021, he is set to return to the Tour de France this year as co-leader with David Gaudoux.

"But I don't have the same pressure as before," he noted.

"My position in the Groupama-FDJ team has changed. I am no longer the sole leader. David Gaudou is there too.

"Most of the pressure is on myself. I want to do well in the Tour de Alps and the Tour de Romandie to calm down and prepare for the Tour de France."