Tour Méditerranéen (2014) Photos February 13 - 16

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BMC (Taylor Phinney, far left, and Thor Hushovd, center, and Steve Cummings, far right) during the teams introduction in Argelès-sur-Mer prior to stage 1	This is an important race for domestic French teams like La Pomme Marseille. Former ProTour rider, Rémy Di Gregorio (third from left) is attempting to resurrect his career after winning a wrongful dismissal court case against Cofidis last fall	Italian squad Androni Giocattoli appears to be looking to Dutch national road race champion Johnny Hoogerland for this race
After riding for ProTour teams for years, doping rumors have damaged Luis Leon Sanchez career and he's now riding for Spanish pro continental team Caja Rural - Seguros	It's going to take some time getting use to Sylvain Chavanel in the IAM Cycling kit	Thomas Voeckler in the familiar Europcar kit checking that his Colnago is ready to go
Christophe Premont (Wallonie - Bruxelles) with a late solo attack at the end of the long, lumpy 226 km opening stage	BMC leading the chase into Argelès-sur-Mer	Danilo Napolitano (Wanty - Groupe Gobert) saving himself for the sprint finish where he finished 2nd
The sprint finish in Argelès-sur-Mer	John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) in charge at the front	1st John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 5:34:01, 2nd Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert, 3rd Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF
		Yeah. Stage 1 winner, John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano)
Race leader, of course, too

Stage 2:  Cadolive → Rousset, 171 km  Full Results and Report

Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r La Mondiale) winner of Mont-Faron and second overall last year	Sylvain Chavanel and Thor Hushovd prior to the start in Cadolive	Race leader John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) rolling to the start
Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF) was 4th today after placing 3rd on the opening stage	Remy Di Gregorio (La Pomme - Marseille)	Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli)
Race scenery on a beautiful winter day in southern France	Today's main break with Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia), Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ.fr)	Two cat 3 and one "HC" KOMs today
Caja Rural team car	The break's gap reached eight minutes	For those that miss the Euskaltel-Euskadi orange in the peloton, CCC Polsat Polkowice likes orange too
	Race leader John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) biding his time...	John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) leading another finish, this time, an uphill finish in Rousset
Close up of the sprint finish in full flight	This one is over	Another convincing win by John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano)
Yannick Martinez (Europcar) crosses second ahead of Armindo Fonseca (Bretagne - Seche Environnement)	Your happy 2 for 2 winner	Your stage 2 winner, John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano)
John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) may have won the first two stages, but without time bonuses he's still tied on time with many other riders

Stage 3:  Lambesc → Saint Rémy de Provence, 63 km  Full Results and Report

Race leader, John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) prior to the early start in Lambesc for a short circuit race	Taylor Phinney	After a 63 km circuit race, the sprint finish in Saint Rémy de Provence
John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) leading the way for the third day in row	Close up of the stage 3 sprint finish	Natural hat-trick for John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano). 2nd Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing) and 3rd Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF).
	John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) knows the routine by now	He's won the first three stages, but he's still tied on time with my other riders before the TT later in the day would separate the field

Stage 4:  Saint Rémy de Provence, 18.2 km  Full Results and Report

1st Stephen CUMMINGS (BMC RACING) 24:27 on the rolling 18.2 Stage 3 ITT in Saint Rémy de Provence	2nd Riccardo ZOIDL (TREK FACTORY RACING) + 4s	3rd Sylvain CHAVANEL (IAM CYCLING) + 10s
4th Jean-Christophe PERAUD (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 15s	6th Tobias LUDVIGSSON (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 35s	7th Bob JUNGELS (TREK FACTORY RACING) + 37s
14th Luis Leon SANCHEZ (CAJA RURAL - SEGUROS RGA) + 53s	When of the first three stages, 41st John DEGENKOLB (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 1:28	Stage 4 18.2 km ITT winner, Stephen CUMMINGS (BMC RACING)
and new race leader by 4s. Last year's Mont-Faron summit finish winner, Jean-Christophe PERAUD, is just 15s back

Stage 5:  Bandol → Mont Faron, 193 km  Full Results and Report

The start scene in Bandol before the final stage with a summit finish on Mt Faron after 193 km of racing; the oldest rider in the race, Davide Rebellin, looking pensive	For the second year in a row, France's Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R La Mondiale) wins the first mountain test on the European road calendar	Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R La Mondiale) started the day 15s back on GC and moved up to 2nd overall in the final results, just 4s back of the winner
After Eduardo Sepulveda crossed 2nd, Stefan Denifl (IAM Cycling) and Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing) crossed 3rd and 4th, 11s back		5th Silin Egor (Katusha) and 6th Riccardo Zoidl (Trek Factory Racing) + 17s
Close call for Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing) on Mt Faron	Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing)	28th was the highest result among the Colombia team on Mt Faron
The oldest rider in the race, 43 year-old Davide Rebellin (CCC Polsat Polkowice) was 11th + 29s	Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R La Mondiale) celebrates his back to back win on Mt Faron	Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing) wins the overall by 4s
First GC win as a pro by Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing)		Stage 5 winner and jersey winners