JAMES MCLAUGHLIN said he ‘felt exceptional’ in clinching a brilliant win in the famous Rance Emeraude race in France.

The one-day, 125km-long race began from Saint Malo and ended with a tough 35km finishing circuit in Epiniac.

The day started out overcast with the temperatures dropping almost to freezing.

The pace was very high from the start with no riders making much ground on the peloton due to the rolling nature of the roads and being keen to keep warm in numbers.

But on arriving at the finishing circuit, McLaughlin (Sojasun-Espoir) was placed well in the peloton.