The Tour du Haut Var should provide a good test for the team in France. A hilly course on both stages, mean that it will be a lot of attacking from the GC favourites.



Eros Capecchi will make his debut and lead the team in France. Fredrik Ludvigsson will offer support, along with Simon Richardson and Dan Fleeman.

Caleb Ewan will be the team's sprinters, should the stage end in a Mass Sprint, with a lead out train made up of Philip Lavery and Nelson Oliveira.

Nathan Earle completes the squad, riding a free role and targeting the KoM jersey.


Sponsor Goal: N/A
Team Goal: Top 10 GC / KoM Jersey
Best Result: N/A

Stage 1 began well for the team, as Nathan Earle attacked first, and formed the day's break, along with Romain Bacon (BigMat) and Nicolas Vogondy (Wanty). Nathan battled well on the climb, taking the jersey by two points. Ruban Plaza (Movistar) won the stage with a long attack, surprising all the favourites, and winning by over 2 minutes. Fredrik was the best placed finisher in 11th.



With a jersey to defend, Nathan attacked after the day's break on Stage 2. With several climb, including two Cat.1 climbs and a Cat.HC climb. Gregory Rast (BMC) was strong on the climbs, but Nathan made sure he kept collecting points, and claimed the jersey.



The stage win, and also the GC victory, would go to Robert Gesink (Vacansoleil) who looked the strongest throughout the stage. He attacked on the final Cat.1 climb on the stage and never looked back. Capecchi was part of a small 6 man group who gave chase, but there was no catching him. Gesink took the win by nearly 2 minutes to the chase group, over 3 minutes to the main peleton, and only Tommy Voeckler (Europcar) being able to attack away to get within a minute of the Dutchman.

1	Robert Gesink	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	9h04'02
2	Rubén Plaza	Movistar Team	+ 16
3	Thomas Voeckler	Team Europcar	+ 1'06
4	Arthur Vichot	TEAM GUNK	+ 1'33
5	Samuel Sánchez	TEAM BBVA	+ 1'39