Classic Loire Atlantique - 1.6

France, March 23, 2002

Results

First win for Team Krone

By Jean-Francois Quenet

The first Norwegian pro team ever has won its first race in France on Saturday: the up and coming Classic Loire-Atlantique, newly international (1.6), run by the former organisation of the junior Trophy of the French Provinces near Nantes.

Rune Jogert has won a bunch sprint after being a member of a 15 man breakaway which was caught by the bunch with one and half kilometres to go. "I didn't feel so good until then but fortunately I had kept some power for the final sprint and got a good lead out from three teammates", Jogert explained.

This is a fantastic success for Team Krone who started the team only in January thanks to the support of an investment and building company. Sports director Oyvind Lillehagen had to deal with some illnesses during the team's first two months in Europe but the rides found the proper condition just in time before their first stage race which is the Tour of Normandy starting on Monday.

Rune Jogert is a 24 year old sprinter. He was the Norwegian national champion in 2000 and begun his career at a high level in 1997 in Nantes, just a few kilometres away from Basse-Goulaine where he won the Loire-Atlantique in front of Ludovic Rousselot - his team-mate in 1997 - and Lloyd Mondory who is aged 20 and considered as the French biggest hope of his generation.

Results

1 Rune Jogert (Nor) Team Krone
2 Ludovic Rousselot (Fra) U Nantes Atlantique
3 Llody Mondory (Fra) Jean Floc'h
4 Franck Laurance (Fra) Bretagne U Plouvien
5 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Bretagne U Plouvien
6 Erki Putsep (Est) EC St Etienne Loire
7 Morten Hegreberg (Nor) Norway
8 Rodolphe Parent (Fra) VC Rouen 76
9 Jean-Phillipe Yon (Fra) VC Rouen 76
10 Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) AVC Ax en Provence


courtesy of velomania.net