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Jimmy Casper outsprinted fellow Frenchman Romain Feillu to claim victory in the 202km Paris-Camembert semi-classic.

Besson-Sojasun rider Casper saw Feillu of Agritubel and Russian Alexandre Efimkin of AG2R in a race that does not historically suit sprinters.

"It's not normally a course for sprinters, so I'll savour it all the more," said Casper.

"Conditions were ideal for me. We let the others go for it and then we worked on two kilometres - the last two kilometres. I thought for a moment in the sprint all was lost but then I saw an opening. It's a surprise win."

Defending champion Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne had no response when the leading trio pushed for home.

"I was a bit behind two kilometres out and found myself hemmed in," said the Spaniard.

Niels Brouzes (Auber 93) and Alexandre Lemair (Roubaix-Lille Metropole) built a lead of over 14 minutes on an early breakaway but were caught 15km from home.

Eurosport