69th Paris-Camembert

Caisse d'Epargne leader Alejandro Valverde has won the 203-kilometer semi-classic Paris-Camembert. Finishing in a town famous for its cheeses, the Spaniard crossed the line ahead of French domestic stars Jérôme Pineau (Bouygues Telecom) and Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux) after an uphill group sprint: the rolling Normandy hills had not done quite enough to whittle down the field significantly. It is his third win of the year, and will come as a welcome tonic after being beaten to Klasika Primavera triumph by Damiano Cunego at the weekend.
Thanks to this finish, Jérôme Pineau jumps into the lead of the Coupe de France, holding a fourteen point advantage over closest challenger Casper.

Speaking on www.cyclisme-caisse-epargne.fr, the victor said: "It is a victory for the whole Caisse d'Epargne team, and it proves again that we are really becoming an exceptional team. We were capable of controlling the numerous escape efforts that were unleashed all day long, until the last, Sandy Casar's effort. The Frenchman broke away 11 kilometres from the finish and we only caught him a kilometre from the line, without a problem. I was feeling very good and I started the sprint powerfully 500 metres from the finish, which allowed me to win comfortably enough from Pineau and Vaugrenard."

Although Valverde previously declared that he would not be tackling the Ardennes Classics as strongly as in previous years, this seems rather up-in-arms given his recent results. Valverde struck a determined if slightly cautious note: "Only four days and it will already be the Amstel Gold Race. My condition continues to improve little by little as before and I hope to be good for the Classics, although I know the level of my rivals is already very high and that it will not be easy for me. I am nonetheless very motivated to do well in the next races and I hope to be able to be at the top because the Classics are very important events and ones which suit me well."

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