Pavel Brutt won his first race of the season when he took the 38thTour de Vendee.

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The Team Katusha rider rode solo for the final 10 kilometres of the 206km race from Lucon to La Roche-sur-Yon.

The Russian finished 10 seconds ahead of a group from which French pair Mathieu Ladagnous (Bouygues Telecom) and Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues Telecom) crossed the line in second and third respectively.

"We decided we should make the front group explode in the last 10 kilometres", said Brutt. "I'm still in a learning process of my career. I learn a lot from (team-mate Sergei) Ivanov and I must say that cycling is much easier with him."