Bouhanni Wins Circuit Cycliste Sarthe Opener

Last updated : 08 April 2014 By Covsupport News Service

FDJ's Nacer Bouhani won the opening stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire.

The Frenchman won the opening 197km stage from St-Jean-des-Monts to St-Gereon which ended in a sprint.

Bouhanni had suffered an early mechanical as Quintero, Sprengers and Minnaard broke away in this annual five day race but was able to re-join the peloton in chasing this breakway which at one stage was 7.15 clear.

Good work by a number of teams including Europcar who had sent Tommy Voeckler up the road after the trio, ensured that their day was over with twenty one kilometres remaining.

Europcar stayed on the front and were joined by the sprint trains of AG2R La Mondiale, Cofidis and FDJ who got Nacer Bouhanni into the right position for him to take the win ahead of Nizzolo, Lobato, Coquard and Haas.