Monday, 14 April: Martinique rider Ugo Fidelin held his nerve to bring his bike home in fifth and seventh places in the final two stages to take overall honours and win the 17th edition of the Karujet.
Despite not claiming a stage win over the four days Fidelin’s consistency with a second, a third and two top-six finishes was good enough to clinch the title, winning by 1:36.490seconds from local rider Vincent Karam and Frenchman Alain Tarzia.
Karam was another to show consistency, grabbing the runners-up slot after lying seventh at the end of day one then finishing fourth twice and third in the final stage, with Tarzia moving up from 19th at the end of day one to take third overall.
Yesterday’s stage 4 win went to France’s Francois Medori with countryman Jean-Bruno Pastorello taking third ahead of Karam, Alexandre Barret winning the final stage ahead of Medori and Pastorello.
But there was bitter disappointment for Teddy Pons, the points’ leader heading into the final stage, breaking and failing to complete the all-important final stages, ending his Karujet in seventh overall.
Karujet – stage 4 results
1. Francois Medori (fra): 01.33:22s
2. Jean-Bruno Pastorello (fra) + 49s
3. Vincent Karam (glp) + 1:22s
Karujet – stage 5 results
1. Alexandre Barret (fra): 41:48.00s
2. Francois Medori (fra) + 26.075s
3. Jean-Bruno Pastorello (fra) + 27.413s
Overall final classification
1. Ugo Fidelin (mtq): 07:12:26.065s
2. Vincent Karam (glp) + 1:36.490ss
3. Alain Tarzia (fra) + 21:19.332s
4. Vincent Thomas (glp) + 26:22.382s
5. Franck Arnoux (glp) + 59:09.201s
6. Lionel Espinet (fra) + 1:03:53.305s
For the complete classification go to results section in aquabike.net
For further event information go to karujet.com
Photos: Nicolas Defaux