June 02, 2012 (Kenogami, QC) – Kazak Arman Kamyshev did it again scoring his second stage win at the 5th edition of the Coupe des Nations – Ville de Saguenay’s. By crossing the finish line first on Stage 3 in Kenogami, 141km, he keeps both the leader and sprint jerseys.

“With a 10-second overall lead, I could not concede any time. My strategy was not to win the stage, but to maintain my overall lead. I initiated a few attacks and battled every time that seconds were at stake,” explained the race winner and vice-champion of the 2011 edition.

“Tomorrow, it will be important to maintain pressure in order to keep the yellow jersey, but mostly to win the nation’s ranking. Team spirit will prevail,” he added.

The victory was hard-fought between four riders. Canadian David Boily, Slovenian Klemen Stimulak and American Nathan Brown tried to finish in front of the powerful Kazak, coming in second, third and fourth respectively.

Under a threatening grey sky, the 84-rider strong peloton took off on the 14.1 kilometers course, which they had to complete 10 times. A break of 10 riders got away on the second lap. A few riders bridged to the leaders before being neutralized.

Halfway into the race, approximately 20 riders got a gap on the bunch. Over the next two laps their lead went up and down and on the seventh lap, the number of leaders had dwindled to three.

Several attempts were made to bridge to the leaders but only one rider was able to escape and catch them. But all was in vain as the breakaway did not last. At 250 meters from the finish line, the sprint was initiated by Kamyshev who would eventually triumph, with Boily in second and Stimulak third.

Columbian Carlos Galeano (polka dot jersey) and French Julian Alaphilippe (white jersey) both successfully defended their jersey.

The 2011 Coupe des Nations – Ville de Saguenay will come to an end Sunday, with the presentation of the last stage, which will totalize 128.4 kilometers. Will the Kazak claim the title that escaped him last year? Stay tuned!

Results (brief)

1. Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Kazakhstan 3:26:25
2. David Boily (Can) Canada
3. Klemen Stimulak (Slo) Slovenia 0:01
4. Nathan Brown (USA) United States
5. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) France

GC after Stage 3

1. Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Kazakhstan 10:11:41
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) France 0:12
3. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Kazakhstan 0:15
4. David Boily (Can) Canada 0:17
5. Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) UCI Mixed Team 0:18
4. Nathan Brown (USA) United States
5. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) France

3. 10.11’41”