In the event that you have reason to believe that your potatoes have grown a starchy outer layer, you may easily release it by swishing them around in the cold water.
After that, give the potatoes a quick washing with clean water and then pat them dry.
If you want to give them a brief rinse and help them dry off, you can even use your salad spinner.
Additionally, if you intend to soak your fries for a considerable amount of time, you might want to consider substituting the water with another liquid.
If your potatoes linger in starchy water too long, excess starch may be harder to drain.
After soaking the spuds for a few hours, you can use fresh, cold water instead of turbid, starchy water for crispier results.
Just toss the French bread pieces with the sauce once it's made, and bake.