Voeckler victorious at Route du Sud

Marco Frapporti (Androni-Venezuela) claimed victory on the final stage of the Route du Sud in L’Isle Jourdain while Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) sealed the general classification.

Voeckler carried a lead of just four seconds into the stage and he was attentive when Ag2r-La Mondiale’s Romain Bardet – 4th at 9 seconds – tried to slip away on the Côte d’Aurignac after 48 kilometres.

After 85 kilometres, twelve riders who posed little threat to Voeckler’s lead managed to forge clear of the peloton but they were never able to stretch their advantage out much beyond 1:30 and they were recaptured in the final hour of racing.

From that point on, and in spite of a flurry of attacks, a sprint finish seemed inevitable, and Frapporti duly saw off the challenges of Danilo Napolitano (Accent Jobs-Wanty), Benjamin Giraud (La Pomme Marseille) and Adrien Petit (Cofidis) to take the win.

Thomas Voeckler secured final overall victory, four seconds ahead of Franco Pellizotti (Androni-Venezuela) and six clear of John Gadret (Ag2r-La Mondiale).