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Lequarte wraps up Tour of Britain
Agritubel's Geoffroy Lequarte said winning the Tour of Britain couldn't have come at a better time as far as the forthcoming world championships are concerned.
Finishing in the main field on the final stage 110-kilometer stage between Blackpool and Liverpool in north-west England, Lequarte - who started Sunday with a six-second advantage over the field - had done enough to take the Tour of Britain title.
LPR's Alesandro Petachi won the stage while Australia's Matthew Goss, the second-stage winner, took the points title.
The French team for the world championships in Varese, Italy, are due to be announced later Sunday and an elated Lequarte said the Tour win should give him a boost.
"I'm so happy to get the victory and it has definitely made my year," he said. "It is perfect timing because the team for the world championships is announced on Monday so hopefully it will be hard for them to find a way not to put me in.
"The week has gone really well and I think the decisive stage was when I first took the yellow jersey in Stoke. My team (Agritubel) have been a massive help and have worked so hard to keep me up there so I owe a lot to them.
"It was a close finish today and there were times when I was really nervous because it was a windy day but I held on so I am delighted."
