Olaf Pollack (Wiesenhof) has won Stage 1 of the Criterium International. Pollack took a bunch sprint to win the 179-km run from Asfeld to Charleville-Mezieres in 4:15:42. Angelo Furlan (Credit Agricole) finished second, and Mikel Gaztanaga Echeverria (Agritubel) finished third.

The racing began early. After an early break by Aivaras Baranauskas (Agritubel) and Benoit Poilvet (Credit Agricole) was reeled in, Romain Feillu (Agritubel) and Benat Albizuri (Euskaltel) attacked at 10 km. Tiziano Dall?Antonia (Panaria), Maurizio Bellin (LPR), and Giampaolo Cheula (Barloworld) joined the pair, and the escapees ran up a 9:15 lead by 49.5 km.

CSC, Caisse d?Epargne, and Astana began to chase. With 16 km left, the quintet was captured, and Ben Johnson (Slipstream) counterattacked. The peloton caught him, and with three km remaining, Damiano Cunego (Lampre) attempted a solo escape. Francaise des Jeux led the pursuit that reeled in the Italian with 300 m left. At the end, Pollack burst into the lead for the win.

In the overall, Pollack leads Furlan by 0:04 and Echeverria by 0:06. Tomorrow will be a two-stage day and the race?s deciding day. Stage 2 will be a hilly, 98.5-km ride from Les Vielles Forges to Montherme. Stage 3 will be an 8.3-km individual time trial. Who will come out on top? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!