Bouhanni Wins Circuit Sarthe Opener

Last updated : 07 April 2015 By Covsupport News Service

Nacer Bouhanni of Cofidis has won the opening stage of Circuit Sarthe race in France.

A 188.2km stage from Sable-Sur-Sarthe to Varades saw Janse van Rensburg, Ramirez Botero and Lemarcharnd get away and take a lead of eleven minutes.

Janse van Rensburg of MTN Qhubeka took the first sprint of the day as the gap dropped to 7.58 after 99 kilometres and then took the second sprint.

With seventy one kilometres left, their lead was six minutes and then at 4.30 twenty one kilometres later.

The average speed for the first three hours was 41km/h as van Rensburg, Ramirez Botero and Lemarcharnd started on the final twenty kilometres of the stage with a lead of 2.35.

Cofidis and Movistar tried to bring back the escapers and were within a minute of them with seven kilometres to go.

Both teams kept plugging away and the escapers were caught just before the line, allowing Nacer Bouhanni to take the victory with Nathan Haas of Cannondale-Garmin second and Raymond Kreder of Roompot in third, followed by Tsatevich and Hurel.