3rd spot for Julian

London’s Rapha Condor team has got the Continental cyclosportive season off
to flying start with a podium position in the French 2007 season opener, Sur
Les Routes de L’Etoile.

Rapha Condor veteran team member Julian Bray clinched 3rd overall and 2nd in
class in last Saturday’s race, held on the same roads as the French professional
season opener, Le Etoile de Besseges.

The 80km race, held on rolling roads just north of Nimes, was won by super-veteran
Jose Luis del Castillo, who held off the 250-strong field to solo home 1’20”
clear.

Four chasers, including Bray, got away over the day’s second major climb
and finished just under a minute ahead of the bunch.

“It was great to get away and then make the break stick for the last 20ks
on such fantastic roads,” Bray said. “I hope it’s a good omen
for what we hope’s going to be a big season for our expanded RaphaCondor squad.”

Held over much of the course of the 4th stage of the Etoile de Besseges, the
cyclosportive organizers from the Velo Club Alesien were able to use the pro
race start and finish at Casino Les Fumades, near Ales, for that big race feel.

Later in the afternoon, Christophe Mengin won the 4th stage of the Etoile from
a two man break, with Nick Nuyens taking the overall in the five-day race a
day later.

Sur Les Routes de L’Etoile, February 10, 2007
1. Jose Luis del Castillo 2:09:32
2. Alexandre Falini @ 1:20
3. Julian Bray ST
4. Gerard Tournade ST
5. Patrick Nizan ST

Mengin takes the sprint in the pro-race

Julian on the podium of the Sur Les Routes de L’Etoile

Julian is third in line