Peraud Wins Criterium International

Last updated : 30 March 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Jean Christophe Peraud of the AG2R team won the 83rd Criterium International race in Corsica.

The final stage of this weekend race on the Island of Corsica was a 176km stage full of climbs from Porto-Vecchio, the third biggest town on the island to Col de l'Ospedale.

After 27kms, Tulik, Fouchard, Duque, Paillot and Dassonville were the first riders to attack. They took a lead of 4.45 before being pulled back to 3.15km with 82kms to go.

That came down to inside a minute and it was all over with 56kms to go.

Fairly of Garmin Sharp and Nauleau decided to make a break of it with 31kms left and stayed away until the 12.8km to go mark.

Race leader Tom Dumoulin was deep in the peloton but was dropped on the climb up to the Col de l'Ospedale.

Bretagne Seche Enviroment sent a man away to up the pace and a group of about twenty five to thirty riders including Andy and Franck Schleck soon caught up with him. 

The attacks started to come from the break and into the final five kilometres, AG2R were on the front as the stage got to its steepest part.

Franck Schleck made three attemptos to win the stage but he was caught inside the final kilometre and IAM Cycling's Mathias Frank took the win in 4.43.59, just beat Jean Christophe Peraud of AG2R.

However, Peraud had been a second ahead of Frank going into the final stage and that was enough to give the Frenchman the Criterium International title.