Lakata wins at Roc d'Azur

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World marathon champion Alban Lakata (Topeak Ergon) was the first man across the line at the Roc d'Azur on Sunday.  He battled with Burry Stander and Florian Vogel in the final sprint.  Stander was the second man across the line, ahead of Vogel.

"Winning this race was one of my lifetime goals," said the 31-year-old Lakata, who was categorized as a master in official results, after the race according to the Roc d'Azur website.

Ivan Alvarez Gutierrez, Stephane Tempier and Emil Lindgren were the fourth through sixth overall and third through fifth elite finishers.

During the race, five riders escaped the rest of the peloton, including Stander, Vogel, Tempier, Andrea Tiberi and Alvarez Gutierrez.  Less than one minute behind the leaders, Lakata drove the chase group.

Competing in front of spectators three to four rows deep, the racers climbed a major pass.  Stander lead over the top, but the rest of the favorites were not far behind. 

Five kilometres from the finish, Lakata and his group joined the leaders on a trail alongside the seashore, which was pummeled by high winds.  The winds took their toll on Tempier and Alvarez Gutierrez, who were dropped.  That left Stander, Lakata and Vogel to battle it out for the win.  In the end, Lakata bided his time and then dashed around the other two to take the victory in the 56km race.

"I didn't think that after the marathon on Friday, that I'd be in good shape," he said. "I had the perfect race.  I really wanted to win, and I think victory went to the one who wanted it most."

Full Results