The fifth stage at the Tour de Beauce – formally “Stage 4-b,” since it followed a morning TT - was pretty much a non-factor in terms of the overall standings, however, bragging rights and UCI points were still on the line, so serious racing did take place.

The 60 kilometer criterium is a tradition in the host town of St Georges, and takes place on a four corner, 1.5 kilometer circuit, with a sharp climb at the end of the start straight and a steep descent with a 110 degree left hander at the base.

Richard Faltus (Sparkasse) took a last lap gamble and attacked the small lead group he was in, managing to hold off Wesley Sulzberger (South Australia.com - AIS) and Mark Walters (Navigators) by a slim one second for the victory.

After an initial flurry of attacks, the peloton settled down for a couple of laps before Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe's p/b Zero Gravity) and Peter Dawson (South Australia.com - AIS) rolled off the front.

The duo established a ten second lead, and then Walters and Jacob Erker(Symmetrics) bridged up to join them. This foursome went 30 seconds clear but were beginning to flag by the halfway mark, when a final group of seven came up - Faltus, Sulzberger, former yellow jersey Stefan Parinussa (Sparkasse), Peter McDonald (FRF Couriers - Caravello), Russel Downing (DFL - Cyclingnews - Litespeed), Ciaran Power (Navigators) and Austin King (Jittery Joe's p/b Zero Gravity).

Kobzarenko in yellow

Photo: Rob Jones

This group hovered approximately a minute in front of the field until the final lap, when Faltus attacked on the short climb after the start-finish line.

"I had planned that spot all race. I came into the corner at the bottom in third, then when the front two riders slowed before the top corner I went to the right of them and attacked."

Walters gave chase but didn't have enough left. "I got within about 10 meters, but couldn't close it. Sulzberger was the only one who got on my wheel, and then in the sprint I just didn't have enough left."

On Saturday the race moves north to Quebec City for a hard circuit race that takes the riders up and down the escarpment along the St Lawrence River ten times. Each 12.5 kilometer lap ends with a climb from sea level that averages 10 percent for nearly a kilometer.

Results - Stage 4b
1. Richard Faltus (Cze), Sparkasse 1:14:26
2. Wesley Sulzberger (Aus), South Australia.com - AIS
3. Mark Walters (Can), Navigators
4. Stefan Parinussa (Ger), Sparkasse
5. Trent Wilson (Aus), Jittery Joe's pb Zero Gravity
6. Jacob P. Erker (Can), Symmetrics
7 Peter McDonald (Aus), FRF Couriers - Caravello
8. Russel Downing (GBr), DFL - Cyclingnews - Litespeed
9. Ciaran Power (Irl), Navigators
10. Peter Dawson (Aus), South Australia.com - AIS