Verbrugghe first Belgian winner at Criterium International

• Results

By VeloNews Interactive

Verbrugghe won two of three stages to take the win

Photo: Graham Watson

Belgian Rik Verbrugghe won the third and final stage of the Criterium International stage race in France on Sunday. Verbrugghe covered the 8.5km time trial from Charleville to Mézières with a time of 10:19, one second faster than German Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole), who was second. Riding for the Lotto-Adecco team, Verbrugghe, who also won the stage 1 road race, took the overall win, 16 seconds ahead of Spaniard Alberto Martinez. He is the first Belgian to win Criterium International.

American Floyd Landis of Mercury-Viatel finished third in the stage 3 time trial, just two seconds off Verbrugghe’s winning time. Also on the American watch, Credit Agricole’s Bobby Julich, winner of Criterium International in 1998, showed decent form in the short time trial, finishing 14th.

Results

CRITERIUM INTERNATIONAL, France. March 31-April 1.

Stage 3

1. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Lotto-Adecco, 10:19sec; 2. Jens Voigt (G), Credit Agricolo, at 0:01; 3. Floyd Landis (USA), Mercury-Viatel, at 0:02; 4. Alberto Martinez (Sp), at 0:04; 5. Jan Hruska (Cz), ONCE, at 0:07; 6. Florent Brard (F), Festina, at 0:10; 7. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp), ONCE, at 0:11; 8. Juan Carlos Domingez (Sp), at 0:14; 9. Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), ONCE, at 0:14; 10. Laurent Brochard (F). Jean Delatour, at 0:16.

Final overall standings

1. Verbrugghe, 7:38:33; 2. Martinez, at 0:16; 3. Voigt (G), at 0:24; 4. David Moncoutie (F), at 0:25; 5. Dominguez, at 0:28; 6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kz), Telekom, at 0:31; 7. Brard, at 0:35; 8. Patrice Halgand (F), Jean Delatour, at 0:38; 9. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Kelme, at 0:41; 10. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC-World Online, at 0:44

Others

13. Landis, at 1:03.