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Chavanel takes Tour de Picardie

By VeloNews.com
Published: May. 18, 2008

French sprinter Sébastian Chavanel (FDJeux) won the fourth and final stage Sunday to claim the overall title at the Tour de Picardie in France.

Chavanel scored time bonuses at intermediate sprints in the afternoon road race of Sunday’s two-part finale to grab the overall crown by a slender, one-second margin.

“It’s a team win. I was perfectly led out by (Philippe) Gilbert and we took off together in the final bend behind (Leif) Hoste. I turned around and saw that the others were 10 meters behind and I told Philippe, ‘Now’s the moment.’ We eased up the pace and finished together,” Chavanel said. “It’s a real satisfaction and the proof that we can rely on sprinters to win races.”

Chavanel and Gilbert crossed the line with arms held together high in what’s a big win for Chavanel, the younger brother of Sylvain.

With no time bonuses at the line, the intermediate sprints – with 3-, 2- and 1-second bonuses in play, became decisive.

Overnight leader Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) couldn’t defend his four-second lead he held to Sebastian Siedler (Skil-Shimano) going into Sunday’s two-stage finale.

Jean-Eudes Demarat (Cofidis) won the morning stage and took the leader’s jersey, but Chavanel was able to erase a seven-second gap with sprints.

Slipstream-Chipotle was active in both sectors of Sunday’s split stage. Kilian Patour took third in the 88.5km morning stage after working into the winning break from Grandvilliers to Cayeux-sur-Mer while Will Frischkorn initiated the move in the afternoon 95km fourth stage from Ault to Cayeux-sur-Mer.