Ravard sprints to Paris-Bourges victory

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Anthony Ravard (Ag2r-La Mondiale) sprinted to his fifth win of the season at Paris-Bourges. The Frenchman held off Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) and Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank) in the finishing straight to take the 60th edition of the race.

"Today the whole team worked hard," said Ravard. "They pulled back the escape of ten as we entered the circuit. Then, I was well placed and I only had to jump on the pedals! It's a great team performance and it is also a different victory for me from earlier this season because this time I won with a bit more room."

Jan Barta (Team NetApp) and Steven Cozza (Garmin-Transitions) escaped early in the day and quickly established a significant lead. Soon after they established their maximum advantage of 7:30, Barta opted to go it alone while Cozza abandoned the race.

Back in the main field, a dangerous looking move involving Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank), Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) and Luis Pasamontes (Caisse d'Epargne) drifted off the front inside the final 100km. While they were quickly reeled back in, the net result was that the pace of the peloton went up a notch and suddenly Barta’s lead began to crumble.

Another counter attack involving Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia), Jérémy Roy (FDJ), Luis Pasamontes (Caisse d'Epargne), Vincent Jérôme (Bbox), David Moncoutié (Cofidis), Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) and Thomas De Gendt (Topsport Vlaanderen) saw Barta swept up, and as they approached Bourges, the race all came back together.

Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d’Epargne) then slipped clear in the finale but with Ag2r forcing the pace on the front of the peloton his effort was doomed It was left to Anthony Ravard to unleash his sprint in the finishing straight to take the win ahead of Feillu and world championships silver medallist Matti Breschel.

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