Saturn's Benoit Vaugrenard led for ages and looked like he could pull off a shock win as Bonnet was slower at the checks. But then Dmitri Champion came in 2nd, a fraction of a second slower. This indicated that Vaugrenard had faded in the 3rd section and William Bonneyt took full advantage:
But could there still be an upset? Maxbo Bianchi's Maxime Bouet takes the lead at the 2nd checkpoint. Can he hang on to upset the odds? No.
But 2nd is a fabulous results for the young frenchman.
1
William Bonnet
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
50'27
2
Maxime Bouet
MAXBO BIANCHI
+ 6
3
Benoît Vaugrenard
SATURN
+ 7
4
Dimitri Champion
CYCLING24 - HONDA
s.t.
5
Sylvain Chavanel
FRANCE TELEVISIONS
+ 16
6
Matthieu Ladagnous
SATURN
+ 18
7
Pierre Rolland
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
+ 32
8
Matthieu Sprick
CYCLING24 - HONDA
+ 40
9
Sébastien Joly
SATURN
+ 43
10
Christophe Moreau
DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM
+ 1'01
11
John Gadret
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 1'04
12
David Boucher
LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER
+ 1'11
13
Carlos Da Cruz
SATURN
+ 1'20
14
Carl Naibo
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 1'21
15
Nicolas Vogondy
LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER
+ 1'22
16
Christophe Riblon
CERAMICA PANARIA - NAVIGARE
+ 1'29
17
Mathieu Perget
VIRGIN MEDIA PRO CYCLING TEAM
+ 1'31
18
Cyril Dessel
TEAM FLOGAS
s.t.
19
Clément Lhotellerie
CYCLING24 - HONDA
+ 1'33
20
Amaël Moinard
FRANCE TELEVISIONS
s.t.
21
David Moncoutié
FRANCE TELEVISIONS
+ 1'36
22
Hugues Mottin
NIPPO CORPORATION - MEITAN HOMPO CO. LTD - ASADA
s.t.
23
Mikaël Chérel
SATURN
+ 1'45
24
Patrice Halgand
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
+ 1'49
25
Damien Gaudin
FERRARI - GUERCIOTTI
+ 1'50
26
Sandy Casar
SATURN
+ 1'53
27
Nicolas Portal
UNE ORBITEL
+ 1'55
28
Laurent Lefèvre
DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED
+ 1'56
29
Yoann Offredo
FERRARI - GUERCIOTTI
s.t.
30
Christophe Kern
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
+ 2'02
31
Blaise Sonnery
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 2'06
32
Pierrick Fédrigo
CYCLING24 - HONDA
+ 2'08
33
Stéphane Poulhiès
AGRITUBEL
+ 2'18
34
Lloyd Mondory
FRANCE TELEVISIONS
+ 2'21
35
Jérôme Pineau
CYCLING24 - HONDA
+ 2'29
36
Romain Feillu
DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED
+ 2'40
37
Thomas Voeckler
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 2'41
38
Mickaël Delage
SATURN
+ 2'44
39
Anthony Geslin
CYCLING24 - HONDA
+ 2'47
40
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 2'55
41
Rémy Di Gregorio
FRANCE TELEVISIONS
+ 3'00
42
Stéphane Bonsergent
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 3'05
43
Anthony Lavoine
CERAMICA PANARIA - NAVIGARE
s.t.
44
Sylvain Calzati
AG2R PRÉVOYANCE - RENAULT
+ 3'12
45
Hervé Duclos-Lassalle
FRANCE TELEVISIONS
+ 3'22
46
Francis Mourey
SATURN
+ 3'31
47
Sébastien Hinault
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
+ 3'35
48
Christophe Le Mével
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE
+ 3'41
49
Frédéric Guesdon
SATURN
+ 3'44
50
Jean-Patrick Nazon
NIPPO CORPORATION - MEITAN HOMPO CO. LTD - ASADA
+ 3'48
51
Michel Sibilla
LA GAZETTA DELLO SPORT
+ 3'57
52
Arnaud Coyot
TELEFONICA
+ 4'10
53
Marc Machado
CARLSBERG
+ 4'12
54
Sébastien Chavanel
DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED
+ 4'17
55
Benoît Salmon
AGRITUBEL
+ 4'44
RR
After a frequent amount of attacks early on, 5 men finally got away.Ag2r's Naibo and Bonnet. Plus Bouet, Lefevre and Boucher.
Moreau, Cherel and Halgand attacked from the bunch:
And would eventually catch the breakaway.
More attacks from the bunch would come, the best being Sylvain Chavanel, Calzati and Dessel, but noone would catch any of the 8 lead riders - lacking the determination.
Onto the final lap and Naibo, Moreau, Cherel and Lefevre are all thats left of the break.
Naibo attacks on the final hill, doesnt get far but Moreau blisters away, quickly gaining a 45 second lead.
Moreau looks set to win but oh no he doesn't. He didnt keep up the fast pace and is soon caught by the chasing trio.
And as the sprint is about to bgin with 3km to go: Halgand catches these 4 riders!
Moreau still leads with 1km to go, but here goes Halgand!
And Patrice Halgand is the french national champion!!