MANNING FIFTH IN RUBAN FINALE

The final stage of the Ruban Granitier saw the best individual result of the race by a GB rider, when Paul Manning got into a break which went after just 10 kilometres and finished fifth. The group consisted of nine riders including the dangerous Jeremy Yates, so the main peloton was not prepared to let them get too far away. Having said that, they did stretch out to over 5 minutes clear at one stage, but that came down as the five lap finishing circuit beckoned.

This circuit included a nasty 600m eleven percent climb which really pushed the breakaway riders and soon the French Police rider Christophe Cousinie had broken clear and was strong enough to solo to the stage win. Paul more than held his own over the final kilometres and was feeling fit enough to drop the sixth and seventh placed riders on the climb and was catching third and fourth at the finish.

The GB team have come out of the race with some phenomenal workloads and Paul Manning in particular has benefited, ending the race in far better shape than he began it. Kristian House too has got just what he wanted out of the race and looks ahead to riding the Pursuit and Madison (with debutante Tom White) at next weekend�s Sydney Track World Cup with confidence.

Tom Southam again spent the day looking for a chance to get away in a break, but perhaps typically of his luck in this race, the one attack he didn�t go with was the one which got away. He�s had an excellent week but with little to show for it. Finally, Steve Cummings has also had a great workout over terrain which doesn�t really suit him. He too can look forward to Track challenges ahead with confidence.

All in all, the race was tougher and more competitive than expected, with some deceptively tough terrain, bad weather and strong competition. It puts Barrie Clarke�s stage win in last year�s race into perspective!

Guegon / Foug�res 203km
1 COUSINIE Christophe FRP 4:48:53. 
2 YATES Jeremy * QDL @ 1:00 
3 URBAIN Alexandre * JFM @ 1:29 

5 MANNING Paul GBR @ 1:46

other 
23 SOUTHAM Tom * GBR @ 2:29. 
36 HOUSE Kristian GBR @ 3:31. 
64 CUMMINGS Stephen * GBR @ 10:01

FINAL OVERALL
1 MURAVYEV Dmitriy QDL 25:08:59 

other
21 MANNING Paul GBR @ 6:43 
31 HOUSE Kristian GBR @ 11:59
41 SOUTHAM Tom * GBR @ 18:09
60 CUMMINGS Stephen * GBR @ 51:52