The Olympic time trial silver medalist, Team Saxo Bank’s Gustav Larsson, consolidated his victory on yesterday’s time trial and today he could celebrate the first stage race victory in his career after today’s final stage.

Team Saxo Bank managed to maintain the leader’s jersey on the last and 186.9 kilometer long stage of Tour de Poitou between Atlansevre and Poitiers.

The 194 cm big Swede Gustav Larsson, watched from his well-protected position in the main group and left the work to his teammates, who made sure that Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step), Nicolas Jalabert (Agritubel), Niels Brouzes (Auber 93) og Thor Hushovd (Cervélo) did not get away to retrieve fatal seconds on the Team Saxo Bank captain. However, “Big Thor” dropped back to the peloton with thirty kilometers to go as he saw the writing on the wall and soon after the Cervelo Team went to the front to help inhaling the trio.

And on the final three laps on the circular route the trio was caught and the stage decision was left to the riders in the peloton. Today, Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) was the strongest on the final kilometer and he took the stage win.

“It’s been a great week for us here in France and the riders have been doing a tremendous piece of work. Today, the first twenty kilometers were quite stressful, but Steensen, Bellis and Ljungqvist put in a great effort to keep the peloton in one piece. When we reached the three final laps on the circuit we had five guys to do the crucial hard work to put Gustav in a good position for the final. A great team performace”, said sports director Bradley McGee who later next week will support the Team Saxo Bank riders participating in Tour of Spain.

Top ten stage

1. Heinrich Haussler
2. Michel Kreder
3. Jérémie Galland
4. Fabien Bacquet
5. Alexandre Pichot
6. Sergio Henao
7. Jean Luc Delpech
8. Steven Caethoven
9. Nicolas Roche
10. Frédéric Amorison