Denis Galimzyanov helped Team Katusha with the stage 1 victory at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire 2012
Denis Galimzyanov of Team Katusha turned the table around during the opening stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire 2012.
The cyclist rode brilliantly to grab his first victory of the season at the French race.
He finished the 192.8 kilometres race in a fastest time of 4 hours, 49 minutes and 24 seconds to climb the top podium spot.
Sacha Modolo of Team Colnago-CSF Bardiani and Juan Jose Haedo rode exceptionally well but could not overcome their Russian competitor.
The duo had to settle for the second and the third positions with Matteo Pelucchi of Team Europcar and Francisco Ventoso of Team Movistar finishing at the fourth and the fifth spots.
"We've had one of our riders in the front all day. We took the command of the race straight away," Galimzyanov quoted after the race.
“From 1km to go to the 500 metres mark, Pavel Brutt put the peloton in one line on the left side of the road because the wind was blowing from the right”.
“Then Maxim Belkov took over until Haedo started sprinting. When I saw that, I jumped. I won with an advantage of one length of a bike, it's a good one!,” he concluded.
The cyclist started the new season at the Tour of Qatar and grabbed the second overall position at the race.
The cyclist had to miss the Ghent-Wevelgem and the Three Days of De Panne because of the health constraints.
Denis is delighted about finding form at a crucial time just ahead of the London Olympics and is keen to represent his nation at the mega event.
The 25-year-old marked his professional debut with Team Premier in 2006-07 seasons and penned a deal with Team Katusha in 2008.
He is currently in his fifth consecutive season with the Russian team and is determinant to help the team with his brilliant form in the season.
Galimzyanov is currently leading the stage 1 classifications with a margin of 2 seconds over Benoît Jarrier of Team Veranda Rideau-Super.
Sacha Modolo of Team Colnago-CSF Inox is further 2 seconds behind, at the third spot, with Mikhail Ignatyev and Juan Jose Haedo occupying the fourth and the fifth positions after the stage 1 classifications.
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