Ilnur Zakarin from continental team Itera-Katusha won 5th stage of prestigious Tour Alsace, while took 3rd at stage 4 before it.
In France, during a day two stages of Tour Alsacewere held. In the morning riders rode 84,6 km from Bollwiller to Markstein (4th stage of the race), while in the afternoon the peloton has faced individual time trial for 17,7 km in Cernay (5th stage of the race).
Fourth stage won general classification current leader Jonathan Tiernan-Locke from Endura Racing, who made his decisive attack at the last climb in Markstein. Only two rider could follow him – Louis Meintjes from Lotto-Belisol U23, who finished second with +0.04, and Russian young rider Ilnur Zakarin from Itera-Katusha, who finished 3rd with +0.11 behind of the winner.
In the afternoon Ilnur Zakarin finally won his stage – individual time trial for 17,7 km. Russian rider of Itera-Katusha overpassed Damien Howson from Team Jayco with 11 seconds and Damien Gaudin from Team Europcar with 23 seconds.
After 5th stages Ilnur Zakarin still keeps his 5th place in general classification. Itera-Katusha front man has +3.37 to Tiernan-Locke, who is still the overall leader.
Ilnur Zakarin is one of the most successful riders of Itera-Katusha in 2012. He already scored 6 victories and 4 podium places in the UCI Europe Tour.