April 5, 2011 (St-Mars-la-Jaille, France) – Kevin Lacombe (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10 finished 6th at Stage 1 from Le Chateau-d’Olonne to St-Mars-la-Jaille 191km taken by Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard Trek over Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne in second and Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ in third.

RACE Info from Team Director, Steve Bauer:
The game plan at the outset is to win the overall. Svein Tuft has been riding very strong and we believe he may be able to surprise in the Time Trial tomorrow. We knew Leopard Trek was bringing Benatti to win the stages and possibly the overall.

Our strategy was to be vigilant on the front of the race, not necessarily go into breakaways but to be sure to protect our interest in the overall if we needed to chase. We did not want to waste energy unnecessarily because we felt Leopard would control.

As it happened: Sure enough Leopard Trek took control of the race. Two of their riders went into a breakaway and the Leopard riders set tempo. The duo took the main seconds of three and two for both of the first sprints. After the first break was caught, Thomas Voekler was very active but to no avail. One Big Mat rider went clear with 83 km to go, only to engage the Leopard team once more to control the race. Into the four final circuits of 6.4 kilometers each, it was evident that the most likely scenario of a bunch sprint would occur. Keven Lacombe wanted to do the sprint without support and not risking our team before the Time Trial. Keven finished an excellent 6th place.

“We are pleased with a relaxed, relatively easy day before the two split stages tomorrow with 97 km in the morning and the all important 6.8 km Time Trial in the afternoon. We are confident in Svein’s ability to do a good ride,” says Bauer

Lacombe commented after the finish: “I have good legs and felt strong in the final kilometers but I think I am still lacking some speed for the final 150-meter kick. The goals of the team are for General Classification and for Svein but I will still shoot for the sprints if the chance permits again.”

NEXT RACE: April 6 – Stage 2, Circuit Cycliste de la Sarthe, FRANCE

Results

1. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard Trek 4:50:56
2. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
3. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ
4. Juan Pablo Forero Carreno (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
5. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
6. Kevin Lacombe (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
7. Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
8. Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
9. Matej Gnezda (Slo) Adria Mobil
10. Fabien Bacquet (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
11. Blaz Jarc (Slo) Adria Mobil
12. Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
13. Grégory Habeaux (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
14. Tony Hurel (Fra) Team Europcar
15. Alexandre Geniez (Fra) Skil-Shimano
16. Romain Hardy (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
17. Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Garmin-Cervelo
18. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-Cervelo
19. Blaz Furdi (Slo) Adria Mobil
20. Francesco Ginanni (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
21. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ
22. Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
23. Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
24. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
25. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Skil-Shimano
26. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
27. Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
28. Marco Haller (Aut) Adria Mobil
29. Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
30. Rémi Cusin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
31. Kristjan Fajt (Slo) Adria Mobil
32. Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
33. Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ
34. Luca Barla (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
35. Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
36. Daniel Lloyd (Gbr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
37. Jürgen Van Goolen (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
38. Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Leopard Trek
39. Svein Tuft (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
40. Ronan Racault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
41. Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard Trek
42. Sébastien Duret (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
43. Ryan Anderson (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
44. Francois Parisien (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
45. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
46. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
47. David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
48. Mitja Mahoric (Slo) Adria Mobil
49. Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
50. Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
51. Giairo Ermeti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
52. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
53. Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
54. Juan Villegas (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
55. Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
56. Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-Shimano
57. Salazar Hugo Sebastian (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
58. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
59. Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar
60. Romain Bacon (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
61. Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Skil-Shimano
62. Laszlo Bodrogi (Fra) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
63. Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
64. Peter Stetina (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
65. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
66. Stéphane Bonsergent (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
67. David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
68. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
69. Cyril Bessy (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
70. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil-Shimano
71. Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
72. Paul Poux (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
73. Thomas Degand (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
74. Riccardo Chiarini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
75. Luca Solari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
76. Gaël Malacarne (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
77. Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FDJ
78. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
79. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
80. Antonio Santoro (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
81. Jonathan Thire (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
82. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar
83. Jacobus Venter (Rsa) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
84. Johan Chaves Rubio (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
85. Flavien Dassonville (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
86. Will Routley (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
87. Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ
88. Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
89. Johan Le Bon (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
90. Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard Trek
91. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ
92. Sébastien Joly (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
93. Yann Huguet (Fra) Skil-Shimano
94. Oliver Zaugg (Sui) Leopard Trek 1:18
95. William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek
96. Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team Europcar 2:00

GC after Stage 1

1. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard Trek 4:50:46
2. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 0:04
3. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil-Shimano
4. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ 0:06
5. Johan Chaves Rubio (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
6. Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur-Sojasun 0:07
7. Jonathan Thire (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
8. Blaz Jarc (Slo) Adria Mobil 0:09
9. Grégory Habeaux (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
10. Juan Pablo Forero Carreno (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia 0:10
11. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
12. Kevin Lacombe (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
13. Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
14. Matej Gnezda (Slo) Adria Mobil
15. Fabien Bacquet (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
16. Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
17. Tony Hurel (Fra) Team Europcar
18. Alexandre Geniez (Fra) Skil-Shimano
19. Romain Hardy (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
20. Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Garmin-Cervelo
21. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Team Garmin-Cervelo
22. Blaz Furdi (Slo) Adria Mobil
23. Francesco Ginanni (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
24. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ
25. Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
26. Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
27. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
28. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Skil-Shimano
29. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
30. Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
31. Marco Haller (Aut) Adria Mobil
32. Laurent Mangel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
33. Rémi Cusin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
34. Kristjan Fajt (Slo) Adria Mobil
35. Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
36. Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ
37. Luca Barla (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
38. Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
39. Daniel Lloyd (Gbr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
40. Jürgen Van Goolen (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
41. Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Leopard Trek
42. Svein Tuft (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
43. Ronan Racault (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
44. Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard Trek
45. Sébastien Duret (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
46. Ryan Anderson (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
47. Francois Parisien (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
48. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
49. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
50. David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
51. Mitja Mahoric (Slo) Adria Mobil
52. Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
53. Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
54. Giairo Ermeti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
55. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
56. Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
57. Juan Villegas (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
58. Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
59. Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-Shimano
60. Salazar Hugo Sebastian (Col) Colombia Es Pasion-Cafe De Colombia
61. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
62. Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar
63. Romain Bacon (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
64. Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Skil-Shimano
65. Laszlo Bodrogi (Fra) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
66. Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
67. Peter Stetina (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
68. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar
69. Stéphane Bonsergent (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
70. David Millar (Gbr) Team Garmin-Cervelo
71. Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
72. Cyril Bessy (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
73. Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
74. Paul Poux (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
75. Thomas Degand (Bel) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
76. Riccardo Chiarini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
77. Luca Solari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
78. Gaël Malacarne (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
79. Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FDJ
80. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis
81. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
82. Antonio Santoro (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
83. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar
84. Jacobus Venter (Rsa) Veranda’s Willems-Accent
85. Flavien Dassonville (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93
86. Will Routley (Can) Team SpiderTech Powered By C10
87. Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ
88. Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
89. Johan Le Bon (Fra) Bretagne-Schuller
90. Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard Trek
91. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ
92. Sébastien Joly (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
93. Yann Huguet (Fra) Skil-Shimano
94. Oliver Zaugg (Sui) Leopard Trek 1:28
95. William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek
96. Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team Europcar 2:10