Cycling News

13 July 2008

By Simon Gerrans

It was very important for Credit Agricole to be represented in the breakaway today as we thought that the race profile would be ideal for the right move to survive until the finish. Our team was really active at the front and were in all breaks up until the 40km mark when Laurent Lefèvre (Bouygues Telecom) made a solo move and the peloton sat up. Lefèvre was later joined by three other riders forming the main break of the day. After once again missing the break, we changed our plans and decided to ride for a brunch sprint for Thor. For the next 60km, Team Columbia sat on the font of the bunch holding the break at 5-6 minutes. With 70km to go, my team mates and I took control to bring the break back for a bunch sprint.

I felt really strong today making the first breakaway and taking points on the first KOM. In total I rode the front from 70km to 20km to go when I punched my rear tyre. After the wheel change, the pace was too high for me to get back on the front so I just rode to finish at the rear of the peloton.

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