Casper claims GP de Denain

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Jimmy Casper (Saur-Sojasun) has won his fourth GP de Denain, edging out Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) and Lithuanian Aidis Kruopis (Landbouwkrediet) in a bunch sprint for the finish.

Casper had previously won the event in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

The 32-year-old praised the efforts of his teammates, Jean-Lou Païani, Rony Martias and Cyril Lemoine to get him into a winning position over the final kilometres.

"Everyone felt strong and really worked it," Casper said. "I chose to take the wheel Leigh Howard because I saw that HTC had decided to take matters into their own hands. I started my sprint at 280 metres from the line and suddenly 10 meters from the finish, I felt that Romain had me. I threw my bike on the line, but really, I was not at all confident of my victory.

"Finally, journalists and officials found me and quickly confirmed that I had won. And there was like a deliverance. I cracked. I dropped everything and I cried in the arms of my father who was present at Denain. This victory it needed to happen! ... It's a relief. Finally, I think that Paris-Roubaix has done me good. It does not erase all the early season, but at least it's a start!"

Earlier in the race, a breakaway lasting 140km containing Steven Tronet (Roubaix Lille Metropole), Romain Matheou (Saur-Sojasun), Italian Giorgio Brambila (De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia), Canada's Will Routley (Spidertech Powered By C10), as well as Belgian Grégory Joseph (Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator) were allowed to take a three and a half minute lead on the peloton before being reeled in.