Jimmy Casper wins first stage as Wilco Kelderman takes overall lead in Tour De L’Ain 2011
Saur-Sojasun team’s Jimmy Casper showed a tremendous effort in the first stage of Tour De L’Ain 2011 on Wedneday, August 10. Wilco Kelderman takes overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Meximieux and ended Sain-Vulbas. The 33-year-old French professional road bicycle racer took the total of 3 hours, 16 minutes and 26 seconds to cover the distance of 139.6 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Jimmy said, “It’s a real pleasure to join the Ag2r La Mondiale team, I am proud to return to a team at the WorldTour level after several seasons at Continental Pro. I am a proud person and I hope that I can bring results to the Ag2r
La Mondiale team in 2012.”
Recently, He grabbed first place in Grand Prix de Denain. He also won the first stage of Tour of Oman, the third stage of Tour of Belgium and Volta a Portugal 2010.
Jonathan Thire (Big Mat-Auber 93), Arthur Vichot (FDJ), Eric Berthou (Bretagne-Schuller) and Yoann Michaud (France Espoir Team) were a part of the four-man break with 10 kilometres remaining.
Yoann Michaud, Berthou and Jonathan Thire were back by the peloton in the last 5 kilometres, as Arthur Vichot increased his pace and took the lead in the first two mountains in the competitive stage.
However, in the final kilometres Jimmy Casper showed his brilliant performance and took a lead ahead of the other cyclists. Romain Hardy of Bretagne – Schuller was runner-up and Robin Chaigneau of Skil – Shimano was in third place with the same timing of
Casper.
Daryl Impey (Team NetApp), Jasper Bovenhuis (Rabobank Continental Team) and Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team) were in fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively.
Rabobank Continental team’s Wilco Kelderman took overall standing with the timing of 3 hours, 20 minutes and 59 seconds while Jan Barta (NetApp) was in second place.
The stage winner Jimmy Casper was in third place with 1 second down to the Dutch and ahead of Jean-Christophe and Jerome Coppel.
The second stage will run in Parc des Oiseaux and end in Bellignat. All the cyclists will cover the distance of 153.6 kilometres to take a victory.
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