Sylvain Chavanel wins GP Ouest France - Plouay as fine run of form continues
Sunday 31 August 2014 18:25, UK
Sylvain Chavanel continued his fine run of form by sprinting to victory at the GP Ouest France – Plouay one-day race.
The 35-year-old IAM Cycling rider formed part of a late seven-man breakaway and then beat Andrea Fedi (Nero Sottoli) into second and Arthur Vichot (FDJ.fr) into third in the resulting dash for the line.
It was the Frenchman’s third victory in the space of four days, after he won an individual time trial and then sealed overall victory at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes earlier in the week.
Chavanel said: “It’s not normally the kind of race I like and sprint is not my best discipline. I was looking at the other riders in the final kilometre and I managed to do what it took to win. It’s a wonderful day. It’s amazing to have two victories in a row."
The peloton crossed the line just a couple of seconds after the front group, with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) winning the bunch sprint.
Ben Swift (Team Sky) was the highest British finisher in 32nd, while Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) crossed the line 1min 13sec behind the winner in 112th.
Result
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling
2 Andrea Fedi (Ita) Neri Sottoli
3 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr
4 Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar
5 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
6 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol
7 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing
8 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
9 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing
10 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol
