Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise

Phonak finally returned to competition in Marseilles during the GP La Marseillaise. Riders like Julian Simon and Mauro Santambrogio are present. Our team will be focused around Peter Kennaugh, who will have Jens Voigt and Tadej Valjavec for support him. Find the startlist and profile in the spoiler.





Martin Kohler had launched the breakaway, and he's followed by Yannick Martinez (LPM), Steve Tronet (BIG), Stefan Van Dijk (AJW), Quentin Van Heuverswijn (CCB) and Emilien Viennet (FDJ).



The peloton leaves the gap increase. The breakaway still have5 minutes of advantage to 100 kilometers from the finish.



The rhythm increase in the peloton (3 to 50 km), and Kevin Peeters (CRE) fall into a dangerous descent.



So we aproach of thelast 10 kilometers, Mauro Santambrogio (VIN) attack ! His teammate Taborre, Kadri (ALM), Kennaugh, Simon (SOJ) and Barguil (ARG) are just behind him. The breakaway is not far !



Julien Simon understood that he would not come back ! Martin Kohler leads under the red flag, but Emilien Viennet back strong !



The winner will be found at the photo-finish !



Martin Kohler wins !! He resists to the return of the young Viennet! Peter Kennaugh snatch a nice 9th place.

Rankings

1 Martin Kohler (Switzerland) in 3h23'22''
2 Viennet Emilien (France, FDJ.fr) m.t.
3 Steven Tronet (France, BigMat) m.t.
4 Quentin Van Heuverswijn (Belgium, ColorCode) m.t
5 Stefan Van Dijk (Netherlands, Accent) m.t.
6 Yannick Martinez (France, La Pomme) m.t.
7 Julien Simon (France, Sojasun) m.t.
8 Taborre Fabio (Italy, Vini Fantini) m.t.
9 Peter Kennaugh (Great Britain) m.t.
10 Blel Kadri (France, AG2R) m.t.
...
35 Jens Voigt (Germany) m.t.
41 Julian Alaphilippe (France) m.t.
42 Reto Hollenstein (Switzerland) m.t.
48 Tomasz Nose (Slovenia) m.t.
52 Michael Schär (Switzerland) m.t.
53 Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia) m.t.

Winner of the Trofeo Palma yesterday, Gregory Henderson, the new champion of New Zealand will try to achieve the double. But riders like Jacopo Guarnieri and Ben Swift could cut it in its tracks. Bert Grabsch, Danilo Wyss and Robert Hunter will be dedicated to Ben Swift, the other riders having carte blanche. Find the startlist in the spoiler






Today it is a breakaway of 11 riders took off, composed of Alex Domont (AG2R), Sebastian Reichenbach (AMI), Winner Anacona (Lampre), Martyn Irvine (UnitedHealthcare), Eros Cappecchi (Movistar) Robinson Chalapud (Colombia), Karol Domagalski (Caja Rujal) Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Jesus Hernandez (Saxo Bank), Caleb Fairly (Garmin) and Evan Huffman (Astana).



Lampre's Davide Cimolai and Euskaltel's Juan José Lobato assure the pursuit. The gap does not cross the 5 minutes.



While the break has only one minute and thirty seconds ahead at 40 km from the finish, Vincente Reynes (Lotto) attacks! The pack takes a little time to react.



It was not until the barrier of the last 5 miles to see the break and Reynes caught! But Huffman and Anacona resist!



The two young riders were finally caught two kilometers later. But Anacona blocked Ben Swift (third place) in the sprint! Graeme Brown flew to victory ...



Graeme Brown (Belkin) wins! This has missed a bit of luck to Ben Swift to win today. Robert Hunter completes the podium, and Danilo Wyss finished 10th.

Rankings

1 Graeme Brown (Australia, Belkin)
2 Ben Swift (Great Britain, Phonak)
3 Robert Hunter (South Africa, Phonak)
4 Juan José Lobato (Spain, Euskaltel)
5 Jon Aberasturi (Spain, Euskaltel)
6 Lloyd Mondory (France, AG2R)
7 Guillermo Luis Mas Bonet (Spain, BH)
8 Cimolai Davide (Italy, Lampre)
9 Gregory Henderson (New Zealand Lotto)
10 Danilo Wyss (Switzerland, Phonak)

Tour Méditerranéen Cycliste Professionnel

For the quarantine of the Mediterranean Tour, a lot of very good riders are provided to go to the South of France. Include Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, the two leaders of the Sky. Cadel Evans, Samuel Sanchez, Alejandro Valverde and Ryder Hesjedal are also present (to mention a few). In Phonak, Michael Albasini will do his first race with his new team, even if our expectations are based more on the shoulders of Matthias Frank. Find in the first spoiler the startlist, and the results in the second.




1st stage : Limoux › Gruissan (146.5 km)



The victory should go to a sprinter today, as Arnaud Démare or Bryan Coquard.



Dimitri Le Boulch (BigMat) launched the breakaway of the day, followed by Gregoire Tarride (La Pomme) and the Japanese Wataru Mutsumine (Bridgestone).



With first place at the top of the first climb and third place in the second Grégoire Tarride takes the polka dot jersey.



Grégoire Tarride, probably in better shape than his breakaway companions, wins intermediate sprint.



Unfortunately for the breakaway, the peloton comes back, led away by FDJ. Grégoire Tarride then decided to attack.



But Tarride will be the even caught. Arnaud Démare seems best equipped as Nacer Bouhanni take him. But we are not immune to a surprise ... Julian Alaphilippe has crepped into the wheel of Lobato, himself in the wheel of Démare.



And that's Julian Simon who wins! Arnaud Démare launched his sprint too early, and the rider from Sojasun took the wheel at the right time! But it will be harder to keep the yellow jersey against Sky Armada in the Individual Time Trial at Mont Saint-Clair.

2nd stage : Cap d'Agde  ›  Sete (Mont Saint Clair)  (24 km)



At first sight, this Individual Time Trial is flat. But the Mont Saint Clair, with percentages of around 16%, could destroy the hopes of some riders.



Having lost 5 minutes yesterday (as Rohregger and Plaza), Luis Leon Sanchez (Belkin) is the first to realize a good time, that many will not arrive to exceed.



It was not until the winner of the Tour in 2012, Bradley Wiggins to see a new leader! It deprives LL Sanchez the first place for 4 seconds.



Chris Froome does not look so good! He lost 40 seconds on Wiggins! It was announced that Geraint Thomas (another Sky) took the lead for one second!



For Phonak, Jens Voigt have catched the Euskaltel before him, and fetches a ninth place at 20 seconds of Thomas.



Julien Simon finished far from Geraint Thomas, who will take the yellow jersey!

3st stage : Cabries › Saint Remy de Provence (140km)



4 climbs up Baux-de-Provence should allow to see the riders capable of winning the Tour Méditérranéen.



Damien Monier (Bridgestone) launched the break, and he is joined by Anthony Charteau (Europcar) and Staf Scheirlinckx (Accent.jobs).



Michael Albasini fall! In a slightly downhill the rider from Phonak was unbalanced. He has difficulty to leave, and Bert Grabsch go down to help him.



Anthony Charteau won the two intermediate sprints, and Damien Monier takes the lead of first climbs.



Jelle Vanendert, the Lieutenant of Van den Broeck, creates surprise attack far from the finish, followed by Dimitri Le Boulch (BigMat).



But the two riders were taken about fifteen kilometers away. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is the first leader to attack during the second ascent of the Baux-de-Provence. It is 30 kilometers from the finish and the breakaway 2'40'' ahead.



After an umpteenth attempt, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) has managed to get ahead. Geraint Thomas (Sky) is trying to limit the damage behind. In front, Anthony Charteau dropped his companions and goes to a great victory!



Victory for Anthony Charteau The Europcar rider had the resources necessary to win the stage. Behind the winner of the day is Alejandro Valverde, who gets nearly a minute to Geraint Thomas.



Michael Albasini lost 8 minutes ! The Swiss rider wonder if he can ride tomorrow.