PARIS (AFP) - Nantes on Friday won promotion back to the French top flight a season after their shock relegation with a 1-1 draw at home to Montpellier while rivals Troyes could only draw 2-2 with Boulogne.

Nantes, nicknamed the Canaries and eight times French league champions, missed out on drawing level on points with leaders Le Havre, already promoted.

But they as good as made sure of second place with Grenoble ten points behind them as the latter bid to claim the final promotion slot by beating Ajaccio on Monday.