Tour de la Manche - 2.6

France, May 8-11, 2003

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Stage 1 - May 8: Brecey-Les Pieux, 187 km

French policeman doesn't allow a South African win

By Jean-François Quénet in Les Pieux

Yann Buiron from the French national police team won stage 1 of the Tour de la Manche ahead of South African Jamie Ball (HSBC). The pair were the fastest of a leading group of eight men, comprising Eric Berthou from the other South African team Barloworld, Benjamin Levécot and Noan Lelarge, both ex-professionals from the regional team of Champagne, David Ternoy (ESAG Douai), Rabobank's Thomas Dekker and Denis Robin (Crédit Agricole espoirs).

They were in front with 60 km to go when a group of six, including Frank Kwanten (Bert Story Piels) who was later dropped, caught Buiron and Lelarge, who counter-attacked behind Ternoy, who had been alone in the lead since km 95. Their maximum advantage was 2'02 but was down to 27" with 10 km to go.

The bunch was mostly driven by the French police team. Didn't they have any faith in Buiron winning? "Sprinting isn't my speciality," the stage winner explained. "There's also a time trial on Saturday which suits our leader Martial Locatelli."

It was an uphill finish with some bends, and the supposed sprinters Robin and Ball both missed out. "I was convinced I would be the winner," Ball said. But Buiron was fresh after not working, as his team was setting the tempo on the front of the bunch.

Buiron, 31, is a full time policeman. "Sometimes I get a chance to be selected in the national team for some great races like the Tour de la Manche," he said. "I like to be a part of the team but I'm normally the guy in the shadow. I'll try to keep the yellow until tomorrow evening, it would be ideal if one of my teammates took it afterwards."

With a small gap between the breakaway and the bunch at the end, the Tour de la Manche remains very open.

Results

1 Yann Buiron (Fra) French police        4.27.19
2 Jamie Ball (RSA) HSBC
3 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
4 Noan Lelarge (Fra) Champagne
5 Denis Robin (Fra) Crédit Agricole
6 Eric Berthou (Fra) Barloworld             0.03
7 Benjamin Levécot (Fra) Champagne          0.05
8 David Ternoy (Fra) ESAG Douai
9 Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) Rabobank           0.15
10 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Rabobank           0.19
11 Ian McLeod (RSA) HSBC
12 Shinichi Fukushima (Jap) Bridgestone
13 Benoit Legrix (Fra) Normandy
14 Yvan Sartis (Fra) French police
15 Romain Mary (Fra) French police
16 Jeremy Maartens (RSA) HSBC
17 Jeff Howes (RSA) HSBC
18 Ludovic Lemaréchal (Fra) Normandy
19 Darren Lill (RSA) HSBC all st
20 Fabrice Dubost (Fra) VC St-Lo            0.23