He never found the French; they were far south of him, pushing through Orleans to join Richard at Le Mans.

But the Countess of Brittany's men, under Hugh of Dinan, were sacking Avranches when old Henry heard the bad news from Touraine.

That country and Maine were as the apple of his eye; yet he dared not leave Avranches fated behind him.
All he could do was to send William the Marshal with a small force into Anjou, while he himself spread out westward to give Hugh of Dinan battle and save Avranches, if that might be.

So it was that King Philip slipped in between him and Le Mans.

By this time Richard was master of Tours, and himself on the way to Le Mans, nosing the air for William the Marshal.