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Casper sprints to win at Critérium International
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Besson Chaussures-Sojasun’s Jimmy Casper showed off his strong early season form Saturday, winning the opening stage of France’s Critérium International , a 190km ride from Monthois to Charleville-Mézières.
The 30-year-old Casper had already won two stages in Etoile de Bessèges in February.
Casper said he was especially pleased to be a member of a small continental squad making a mark on a prestigious race .
Casper was quick to praise Christian Prudhomme, the director of cycling at ASO, for having "invited a small team to the Critérium International.”
Casper, a former Tour de France stage winner, suffered a serious career setback in 2007 when he crashed at Gent-Wevelgem. He was also caught up in doping accusations in 2008 after failing to renew his Therapeutic Use Exemption for a corticosteroid used to treat asthma. The problems led to his closing out the year without a contract.
"I realized that this winter cycling is the most beautiful profession in the world,” Casper said. “Of course you tend not to realize this sort of thing until you can’t find a team on which to ride. Fortunately, (Besson Chaussues manager)Stéphane Heulot offered me another chance to ride … and in turn, I offer this win in his honor.”
Casper won the sprint at the end of a stage highlighted by a 170km break by four riders, including Timothy Duggan (Garmin-Slipstream), Arnaud Coyot (Caisse d'Epargne), Christophe Kern (Cofidis) and David Lelay (Agritubel).
After attacking at the 16km mark, the escapees were reeled in with just 5km remaining, under heavy pressure from the Saxo Bank team of defending champion Jens Voigt.
Voigt, a four-time winner of the race, finished in the main field. Riders will face a double-stage day on Sunday, starting with a 98.5km ride from Les Vieilles Forges to Monthermé.
Later in the afternoon, riders will take on an 8.3km individual time trial in Charleville.
"I have no illusions,” said Casper. “I will lose the jersey but I will do my best to defend it."
