June 7/10 0:12 am - Nations Cup-Ville de Saguenay - Stage 4 and Final GC

Posted by Editoress on 06/7/10
 

Luka Mezgec Wins Ville de Saguenay

Playing the classical yellow jersey defence strategy to perfection, the Slovenian National Team managed to protect Luka Mezgec's lead to win the overall title of the 2010 Coupe des Nations-Ville de Saguenay. 21 years old Mezgec could not thank his teammates enough: "They were brilliant, really. They were so strong, always riding at a high steady rhythm and slowly catching all the attackers, I think every single one of them could have won this race. I was never worried or isolated for the whole stage, and all I had to do was to follow a few attacks from second and third overall, Colombian Camilo Andres Suarez and American Ben King. This win is as much my teammates as mine".

Arnaud Demare wins

A group of approximately 30 riders came to the finish line together in downtown Chicoutimi and, after LeBon's win yesterday, it was another Frenchman who took the honours, Arnaud Demare. Germans Marcel Meisen and Phillip Ries came in second and third for the stage.

Canadian Arnaud Papillon came in 12th on the day but, more importantly, he finished fifth overall, a slim 15 seconds down on Mezgec. "Obviously when you are so close to the lead you are aiming at winning, but I happy with my race. More so, it is good for me to show that I have the level to be very competitive at this level," said the 21 year old Papillon.

David Boily was again on the attack today, pulling a solo move with 30 kilometres to go for about 10 kilometres, and he managed to hold on to his lead to win the King of the Mountain competition.

Canadian National Team director Vincent Jourdain was happy with his team efforts. "With Arnaud Papillon fifth place overall, David Boily best climber jersey and Hugo Houle third position on stage 1, it's been an excellent week. More so, I am very satisfied with the way the team behaved as a unit, working well together. I think we have a good depth of talent in this category right now".

This concluded the third edition of the race. With the popular and sporting success of the event, it will no doubt be back and keep growing next year. The third edition of UCI Nations Cup-Ville de Saguenay (Quebec, Canada) was the sixth of seven races , part of the UCI Nations Cup for the world's best male riders aged 19 to 22 years old. It is the only event of this series outside Europe.