Châteauroux Classic de I'Indre Trophee Fenioux

By Cathy Mehl and Philippe Maertens

Sunday was the 7th edition of the Châteauroux Classic de I'Indre Trophee Fenioux, a true sprinter’s race that is part of the Coupe de France series. 

On course were two ‘climbs’ – the Col du Pilori and the Rimoron, but neither had bearing on today’s race outcome.  Initially there was a long breakaway of three riders that stayed away until 40k from the finish.  In this group were Stéphane Rosseto (Vancansoleil), Maxime Médérel (BigMat) and Tom-Jelte Salgter (Rabobank Continental).

Once the break was caught Bbox Telecom drove hard to successfully split up the peloton.  All 8 of the Bbox riders were part of the 31-strong group along with five Team RadioShack riders.  Included for The Shack were Sergio Paulinho, Markel Irizar, Haimar Zubeldia, Fumy Beppu and Geoffroy Lequatre.  Other fast riders were also in the leading group, including Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil), Anthony Ravard (Ag2R), Lloyd Mondory (Ag2R) and Jimmy Engoulvent of Saur-Sojasun.  Bbox and Team RadioShack did all the work but the gap never grew to more than 40-seconds, with Cervelo, BMC and Saur-Sojasun working in the second group to ensure the leaders never got away permanently. 

At 3km to go in the last of five local laps around Châteauroux, the peloton was all together, and a mass sprint was guaranteed.  Ravard took the sprint win ahead of Feillu and Enrico Rossi (Flaminia).  Beppu and Lequatre fought hard and took 4th and seventh places. 

“The team was really good today.  The five in the front worked really hard against the wind,” said Team Director Alain Gallopin.  “The very flat profile of the race was not to our advantage but this kind of race was ideal to learn to work together.”

Everyone has a small break now before racing begins again on September 5 in Belgium when Team RadioShack will line up to race the Leuven / Grote Prijs Jef Scherens.  Team rider names will be released soon.

Top Ten Results

1 Anthony RAVARD AG2R - La mondiale 4:40:08

2 Romain FEILLU Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 0:00:00

3 Enrico ROSSI Ceramica Flaminia 0:00:00

4 Fumiyuki BEPPU Team RadioShack 0:00:00

5 Boy VAN POPPEL Rabobank - Continental Team 0:00:00

6 Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERTI Carmiooro - NGC 0:00:00

7 Geoffroy LEQUATRE Team RadioShack 0:00:00

8 Sébastien TURGOT BBox Bouygues Telecom 0:00:00

9 Florian VACHON Bretagne - Schuller 0:00:00

10 Jimmy CASPER Saur - Sojasun 0:00:00

Team RadioShack Results

67 Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Team RadioShack 0:00:08

72 Jesse SERGENT Team RadioShack 0:00:08

78 Sergio Miguel Moreira PAULINHO Team RadioShack 0:00:22

91 José Luis RUBIERA VIGIL Team RadioShack 0:00:22

93 Markel IRIZAR ARRANBURU Team RadioShack 0:00:22

95 Yaroslav POPOVYCH Team RadioShack 0:00:22