Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r) proved that he is back to his best after a slow start to the year when he defended his title at the Criterium International by winning the queen stage. After Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) had tried an attack, the veteran accelerated 7km from the top of the Col de l’Ospedale and delivered an incredible solo effort to win the stage and win the race overall for the second year in a row.

Due to injuries and various commitments, Jean-Christophe Peraud has had a slow start to the year and he has been far from the level that saw him finish as runner-up in last year’s Tour de France. Already before making his season debut at the Ruta del Sol, the Frenchman made it clear that he would probably not be back to his best before the Vuelta al Pais Vasco in early April.

However, Peraud showed steady improvement in Paris-Nice and so he went into the Criterium International with a small hope that he would be able to defend his title. However, he faced formidable opposition from an in-form Thibaut Pinot who had done nothing to hide his ambition in the two-day race.

Nothing suggested that Peraud would be able to beat the FDJ leader after he had been firmly beaten in yesterday’s time trial where Pinot had finished an excellent fourth. However, the veteran bounced back with a great win in today’s queen stage and his performance was enough to defend the title he took one year ago.

"We were able to follow the tactical plan," he said. "At first I mainly planned to help Alexis [Vuillermoz]. But everything worked well. I counterattacked Thibaut Pinot and I find myself in a solo effort. This win feels good. It is important for the morale after a difficult week and a Paris-Nice below my ambitions that ended with my withdrawal.

"I was not bluffing. I had not yet found my best feelings. Yesterday I did a bad time trial and I was missing my marks. Usually when I start the season in January at the Tour de San Luis, I am able to be in front as early as February. I will now be able to work calmly for the future.

"My next goal is the Tour of the Basque Country. I'm not going to beat everyone, but it's a race that I like and where I can have some ambitions."