Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela’s Marco Frapporti won a great victory yesterday in the final stage of the Route du Sud. After being part of two breakaways on the fast 149 km stage, he had the energy to go on the attack in the final, and just hold off the sprinters when caught on the final kilometre.

“After the second intermediate sprint I went into the first breakaway,” Frapporti told the race website. “We were caught, there were attacks and counter-attacks, and I ended up in the second break as well. In the final I attacked with [Christian] Knees and a guy from La Pomme Marseille [Thomas Vaubourzeix]. And in the end I was able to play it smart. I bagged the sprint, so it went very well.”

The 28-year old Italian was visibly happy, but he modestly continued: “It wasn’t my most beautiful victory, but a great win for both me and the team.”

Speaking of his team leader Franco Pellizotti who finished second overall, Frapporti said: “We tried to get him some bonus seconds for the GC, but that didn’t work out. He’s a great champion, a great reference for us. He’s the oldest rider on the team, and he’s the number one.”