March 9th, 2004 – Mickael Delage (FRA, Entente Sud Gascogne) won the GP Imtec in France, ahead of Evgueny Sokolov (RUS, Moscow City Sport) and Benoit Sinner (FRA, UC Chateauroux 36). The first Canadian was Chris Isaac of Newmarket, Ont., in 45th.

It was the first race of the season for Canada's espoir riders, with two non-starters: Warren Tillbrook or Fonthill, Ont., and Jean-Luc Pilote of Beresford, N.B., who are both suffering from sore tendons. Nothing serious, just a precaution to make sure their early season program isn't compromised. Also, Cory Jay of Charlottetown, P.E.I., has not yet traveled to France.

One-hundred-twenty riders started the 135-kilometre race, held on a hilly and windy course. The pace was high from the start: 44 kilometres were covered in the first hour and quite a few riders were dropped early on.

There were several minor crashes in the early part of the race, which caused splits in the pack. Christian Meier of Sussex, N.B., and Dustin MacBurnie of Truro, N.S., were both stuck behind these, but kept going until they were told to stop with one lap to go for safety reasons. Up front, the best-prepared espoirs were lighting up the race, particularly the Russian Moscow City team and a few others that Canada is not yet familiar with but who we will meet again in two weeks in the Route Tourangelle (March 21) along with two Italian teams.

As for Chris Isaac, Brandon Crichton (Burlington, Ont.) and Brad Fairall (North Vancouver, B.C.), they followed the team strategy not to not try too hard in their first race of the year, to stay in the front third of the pack and to follow the waves of riders moving up the outside of the pack. The distance, the cold and the lack of racing left their mark, and in the end they were happy to finish without too much difficulty.

The team is already looking forward to Montfort-sur-Risle (Maillot des Jeunes SNCF, March 14) in Normandy which will be more active and competitive.