Yury Trofimov wrapped up victory in the l'Etoile de Bessèges as Slovenian Borut Bozic won the fifth and final stage in a sprint finish.

The Russian, who has won the Paris-Toyes for the last two years, was ably defended by his Bouygues Telecom team throughout the day, with his victory effectively having been sealed after his win in stage three.

Bozic of Cycle Collstrop took the honours in the final sprint ahead of Italian Angelo Furlan in a reverse result from the previous day's stage.

STAGE 4

Credit Agricole rider Angleo Furlan has won stage four of the Etoile de Bessèges at Allegre-les-Fumades in France while Yury Trofimov (pictured) remains in the overall lead.

The Italian won the race in a sprint finish ahead of Slovenian Borut Bozic as he completed the 151.7km course in a time of 3h29'53".

Bouygues Telecom rider Trofimov is now on the brink of overall victory as he goes into Sunday's final stage with a 52 second lead over Gianni Meersman of Francaise des Jeux.

STAGE 3

Yuri Trofimov gained Bouygues Télécom's third victory of the season as he landed stage three of the Etoile de Bessèges in Les Salles du Gardon.

The 24-year-old Russian rider followed up Rony Martias' double success in La Tropicale Amissa Bongo Ondimba.

At the end of the 138km trek from La Grande Combe, Trofimov finished 57 seconds ahead of Pierre Rolland of Credit Agricole.

Trofimov takes the traditional orange leader's jersey entering the final two stages.

STAGE 2

Stefan van Dijk took the 149km second stage of the Etoile de Bessèges in France after edging a sprint-finish.

Belgium's Jan Kuyckx, of Landbouwkrediet, leads the overall standings going into the third day, although only by a single second.

Dutchman van Dijk, who rides for the Mitsubishi-Jartazi team, lies fourth in the general classification, behind Kuyckx, Gianni Meersman and Nicolas Rousseau.

News emerged that Slipstream-Chipotle rider Blake Caldwell broke his hip in a crash on the opening day. Friday's third stage is 138km.

STAGE 1

Jan Kuyckx finished in front on the opening stage of the 38th Etoile de Besseges.

The Belgian, riding for the Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner team, won the 154km stage through France's Southern Gard department in a time of 3.33.32.

His compatriot Gianni Meersman, riding for Francaise des Jeux, finished in second place.

Nicolas Rousseau of AG2R came in third, ahead of fellow Frenchmen Freddy Bichot and Steve Tronet.

As leader, Kuyckx will wear the traditional orange leader's jersey for Thursday's stage from Nîmes to Saint Ambroix.

Eurosport