TROPHEE DES GRIMPEURS (1.1)
Didier Rous wins third Trophee des Grimpeurs in six years; Philippe Gilbert, Tristan Valentin podium. Health Net's Menzies leads the chasing peloton home in 7th.

By Bart Hazen

Today was the 32nd edition of the Trophee des Grimpeurs. The start and finish are in ARGENTEUIL and the riders had to do 137,3 km in 17 laps. One lap is about 8 km long each in distance. Last year’s winner Phillipe Gilbert was the big favourite together with Bouygues Telecom rider Didier Rous who won the race already in 2001 and 2003.

In the beginning of the race after a breakaway of Christophe Agnolutto, Mickael Buffaz, Gilles Canouet, Eduardo Gonzalo, Benjamin Johnson, Samuel Plouhinec, Denis Robin and an 8th rider it was Didier Rous who attacked together with his teammate Walter Beneteau. There gap was growing and growing on a pursuit group with Phillipe Gilbert, Carl Naibo, Yannick Talarbardon en Tristan Valentin.

After 7 laps of 17 the situation was already in a decisive stage. Rous and Beneteau were still in the lead with 54 sec on Gilbert, Valentin and Mederel. The peloton was riding in chase at almost 4:00. With 5 laps to go the situation was still the same but the advantage was growing to 1.17 on the 3 with Gilbert, 4.41 at Pineau and almost 6.30 on the peloton. A lot of riders had quit the race at this point already.

In the last 2 laps Walter Beneteau dropped, while his teammate was still going strong. In the last lap Rous didn’t have difficulties and won the race for the 3rd time in 6 years. At about 1.00 it was Gilbert who took the 2nd place ahead of Tristan Valentin. Walter Beneteau who made the race together with Rous finished 4th. Karl Menzies (Health Net) led the peloton home in the sprint.

Results:
1 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues
2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux
3 Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis
4 Walter Bénéteau (Fra) Bouygues
5 Maxime Médérel (Fra) Auber93
6 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues
7 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net
8 Jean-Luc Delpech (Fra) Bretagne Jean Floc'h
9 Gilles Canouet (Fra) Agritubel
10 Garrett Peltonen (USA) Health Net
11 Yann Pivois (Fra) Bretagne Jean Floc'h
12 Jarno Van Mingeroet (Bel) Jartazi
13 Carlos Ibañez González (Col) ATOM
14 Stéphane Bonsergent (Fra) Bretagne Jean Floc'h
15 Fabien Patanchon (Fra) Française des Jeux
16 Junya Sano (Jpn) Vang
17 Julien Mazet (Fra) Auber93
18 Christopher Sutton (Aus) Cofidis
19 Renaud Dion (Fra) AG2R
20 Nicolas Roche (Fra) Cofidis
21 Mickael Buffaz (Fra) Agritubel
22 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Française des Jeux
23 Piotr Zielinski (Pol) Bretagne Jean Floc'h
24 Saïd Haddou (Fra) Auber93
25 Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Agritubel
26 Mathieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues
27 Jean Mespoulède (Fra) Auber93
28 Erki Putsep (Est) AG2R