Stephane Poulhiès (Saur-Sojasun) won the fourth stage of the Etoile de Besseges, the Grand Prix de la Ville d’Alès. The 25-year-old Frenchman outsprinted Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM) into second place, and Justin Jules (La Pomme Marseilles) at the end of the 152km circuit.
“Everything went so simply,” said Poulhiès after the stage. “We had instructions to stay “au chaud” [hot – ed] for the whole day and I was delivered to the finish perfectly; the whole Saur-Sojasiun team did a great job. I was delivered to the last roundabout by Cyril Lemoine and all that remained for me was to sprint for the last 250m.
“This victory was a superb collective effort,” he added.
An early attack from Bram Schmitz (Verandas Willems-Accent) pulled a break of four riders clear, including Laszlo Bodrogi (Team Type 1). The group managed to build a lead of 3 minutes but was ultimately pulled back.
Yurily Trofimov (Katusha) escaped the peloton with 20km to go, but was ultimately caught 2km from the line and the sprinters’ teams lined their fast men up for the line. Poulhiès was delivered to the finish by his team and he took his team’s first victory of the season.
Second placed rider Anthony Ravard (AG2R La Mondiale) had stolen third place in the final intermediate sprint with 26.2km to go, taking back the single second that he trailed behind race leader Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM). With both him and Hoogerland missing out on the bonuses at the stage finish, Ravard took the jersey by virtue of his better stage finishes throughout the race.
With the two riders locked together on time, the final stage should see a battle between the AG2R La Mondiale and Vacansoleil-DCM teams for the overall victory; Poulhiès and Saur-Sojasun may have something to say about it though.
“For the final stage we have some great cards to play,” he said. “No one can stop us like this…”
Result stage 4
1. Stéphane Poulhiès (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
2. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM
3. Justin Jules (Fra) La Pomme Marseilles
4. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ
5. Benjamin Giraud (Fra) La Pomme Marseilles
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis
7. Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM
8. Fabien Baquet (Fra) BigMat-Auber 93
9. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team Type 1
10. James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Verandas Willems-Accent
Standings after stage 4
1. Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil
3. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM @ 8s