Argos Shimano's John Degenkolb won the Paris-Bourges.
A 190.3km race, mainly featured French riders but did include Simon Holt of Team Differdange-Losch, and saw Mertens, Coquard, Duval and Westra launch the first attack.
They built a lead of 1.05 on chasers Brutt and Delfosse and 3.05 on the peloton after 54 kilometres.
Brutt and Delfosse bridged to the escapers, who were 3.45 clear approaching the last seventy five kilometres.
The peloton came back and was down to 25 seconds with 39kms remaining so Duval, Lieuwe Westra and Pavel Brutt took this as their cue to attack and off they went.
They were caught inside the four kilometres to go mark and French housewife's favourite Europcar's Tommy Voeckler took over at the front.
The peloton came back and it was a bunch sprint which saw Argos Shimano's John Degenkolb triumph ahead of FDJ's Arnaud Demare, Samuel Dumoulin, Heinrich Haussler, Davide Appollonio, Rudy Barber, Michael Delage, Lloyd Mondory, Cyril Lemoine and Thomas Damuseau.
Simon Holt did not finish.
“I expected a hard race right from the start, with crosswinds,” said Degenkolb to the Argos Shimano Press Office. “But five guys rode away early in the race, and then it became easier. In the middle of the race we had a few climbs, and from there on the race was on. The team did a fantastic job today. They protected me very well and we were always in control and responded to the right moves.
“In the end it was a hard fight, but it worked out well. The peloton caught the break with 5km to go. I didn’t have a lead-out train with me here, so I benefited from the FDJ lead-out and was able to start my sprint off the wheel of Arnaud Demare at the right moment.
“I really like this kind of race. It’s nice to end the season this way. Now I am looking forward to my last race on the program, Paris-Tours, and I hope to confirm my form again there.”