Cazaux hits the ground running

Despite departing Euskaltel and the pro scene on everything but good terms at the end of last season, Pierre Cazaux has not wasted his time in achieving success among the amateurs.

The erstwhile Francaise des Jeux rider, now competing for GSC Blagnac in his home country, came out tops in Sunday's Grand Prix d'Ouverture Pierre Pinel, reports Equipo Euskadi. The 28-year-old prevailed in a sprint finish against the promising Clément Saint-Martin, seven years his junior, of Océane U-Top 16, with fellow ex-pro Mathieu Perget, formerly of Movistar and now of US Montauban 82, closing out the podium.

Team-mate and fellow French-Basque Damien Branaa also took the start, but does not figure on the result sheet.