Rousseau tops escape for stage and overall lead

France's Nicolas Rousseau won the opening stage of the Route du Sud Thursday in Pau, France. He outsprinted his escape companions Fumiyuki Beppu (Skil-Shimano), Yann Pivois (Bretagne - Schuller) and Carlos Castaño (Xacobeo Galicia) at the end of the 143.2-kilometre stage.

"The plan was initially to protect our two climbers, Loubet and Bonnafond and try to escape," said Rousseau. "We got five minutes on the peloton and I never thought we would get such a lead. When I saw that the gap was still large at the top of Soulor I thought it was possible for the break to stay away. I'm not a pure climber but we maintained a pace that suits me.

"I felt really good today and I waited for the sprint because I know I have a good peak speed. I really believed in my chances, I took the wheel that I thought the fastest, Carlos Castano, and I won. This victory is special because I'm in my adopted home and I know the roads in the area."

Rousseau, of team AG2R La Mondiale, also claimed the overall lead with three more days of racing to come. Tomorrow's stage finishes in Pierrefitte Nestalas after 143.8 kilometres.

The Route du Sud stage was his first professional win after four years of racing. Rousseau, 26, finished seventh in the Boucles de l'Aulne last month.