Bol powers to victory on the island of Jersey

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Dutchman Jetse Bol (Rabobank Continental) won stage 1 of the Tour de Bretagne in Jersey. The opening stage comprised a circuit race of ten laps around the town of Gorey for the second visit of the race to the Channel Island. Three years ago, another Rabobank rider won the prologue in Saint-Hélier, Lars Boom, who bested Alex Rassmussen and Edvald Boasson Hagen. This race is known for giving young riders special exposure.

Bol was in the early breakaway with Arkimedes Arguelyes (Itera-Katusha), Sander Oostlander (Van Vliet EBH), Nicolas Baldo (Atlas), Gwénaël Teillet (U Nantes-Atlantique) and Romain Hardy (Bretagne-Schuller). Bol, Arguelyes and Oostlander stayed away when the decisive breakaway went on the eighth lap. Seven new riders joined them: Niels Brouzes (BigMat-Auber 93), Julien Antomarchi (VC La Pomme-Marseille), Renaud Dion (Roubaix-Lille-Métropole), Franck Bouyer and Perrig Quéméneur (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Laurent Pichon and Johan Le Bon (Bretagne-Schuller).

"I expected the pro teams with two riders in the breakaway to attack but it never happened," Bol said. On the other hand, Russian rookie Arguelyes Rodriguez, whose Spanish family name comes from his Cuban father, attacked five times but still had the legs to sprint for second place.

"This is my first real win since a national race in Holland last year, so it has a special taste," Bol said. "I've won the prologue of the Tour of Normandy this year and the time trial and general classification of the Tryptique Monts et Châteaux but there's nothing better than putting the arms up in the air."

The Dutchman from Noord-Holland has recognized the 10.2km time trial scheduled for Monday in Saint-Ouen, still on the island of Jersey, as another opportunity to shine. "It's heavy," he said. "There is a short climb but really steep. I hope to win again."