Route d’Occitanie (2018) Photos June 17 - 21

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Bike Aid, Africa team	Strong Movistar team to support Valverde	Eritrean RR champion, Meron ABRAHAM (Bike Aid)
valverde catches up with old pal Luis Leon Sanchez	Last years stage 1 winner Julien Loubet is driving the race marshal this year.
	the early action that tv misses	damien gaudin france direct energie was a big power in the break today
brice feillu france fortuneo	cofidis and movistar controlled the break today	race favourite alejandro valverde spain movistar
	alejandro valverde and luis leon sanchez	dani navarro spain cofidis
	Number 147 eritrean champ bike aid team in escape all day wins KoM and young rider jerseys	damien gaudin france direct energie was a big power in the break today
		You don't often see a bike throw photo-finish contested by teammates
Nacer Bouhanni (Fra/Cofidis, Solutions Credits) was awarded the win over his teammate Christophe Laporte (Fra).		Laporte and Bouhanni, a friendly discussion on who they thought won, or something else?
	Stage 1 winner, Nacer Bouhanni France Cofidis	The race leaders coral jersey went to bouhanni after stage 1, but the sponsor was put on back not the front
KoM lead to escapee and the Eritrean champion, Meron ABRAHAM (Bike Aid)

Stage 2:  St Gaudens → Masseube Val-de-Gers, 173 km  Full Results and Report

eyes down for jersey wearers inc bouhanni and laporte from cofdis who arent next to each other!	opening circuit of st gaudens at depart	break of the day went quite early and 7 riders
fabian doubey france wanty group goubert nearest to the camera takes KoM jersey after being in the break today	Movistar controlled the peloton most of the day	a handy recap of race escape numbers and the gap
	luis angel mate spain and nacer bouhanni france in race leaders jersey, both cofidis talk in the bunch	Garikoitz Bravo Oiarbide Baque Euskadi Murias working in the break
	Alejandro Valverde wearing number 1 Movistar team spain	stephane rossetto france cofidis
Luis Leon Sanchez Spain Astana team taking some advice with 50 k to go	alexis vuillermox france ag2r just ahead of teammate and eventual stage winner venturini	kenny elissonde sky france
	with about 50k to go Astana hit the front hard	Luis Leon Sanchez Spain Astana team closely tracked by ex team mate Valverde Spain Movistar
Dayer Quintana having worked hard was dropped by the astana attack	Meron Abraham Eritrea champion in LoM jersey also dropped near the end when Astana attacked
Clement VENTURINI (FRA/AG2R LA MONDIALE) wins Stage 2 in 4:07:08 ahead of 2nd Nacer BOUHANNI (FRA/COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS), 3rd Carlos BARBERO (ESP/MOVISTAR), 4th Christophe LAPORTE (FRA/COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS)
Your stage 2 winner, 24 year-old Clement VENTURINI (FRA/AG2R LA MONDIALE)		Race leader, Nacer BOUHANNI (FRA/COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS)

Stage 3:  Prat-Bonrepaux → Les Monts d'Olmes, 198 km  Full Results and Report

alejandro valverde	Dayer Quintana Colombia Movistar
Dani Navarro Spain Cofidis	Anthony Perez France Cofidis
Cofidis and Movistar show intentions at the start	Anthony Perez France Cofidis was the first to try and escape on the cat 1 col de lers	brice feillu france fortuneo (no 21) also near the front all day
Christophe Lapprte Cofidis dropped on first climb and abandoned
benat txoperena matxicote was alone at head of the race after 2nd climb of the day		damien gaudin france direct energie chased down the basque rider and was alone at the head of the race coming to the last climb
nacer bouhanni france cofidis did a huge amount of work leading the peloton today
	luis leon sanchez spain astana and brice feillu france fortuneo tried to escqpe on the penbultimate climb.	movistar (valverde and fernandes) together with navarro spain cofidis and elissonde france sky make the fina selection
Dani Navarro Spain Cofidis made at least 3 attacks on the final climb as the weather got worse in rain and thick fog followed by valverde and elissonde
		kenny elissonde france sky
elissonde valverde and navarro	Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR) emerges from the fog to win the Les Monts d'Olmes summit finish in 5:28:53
2nd Daniel NAVARRO (ESP/COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS) + 2s	3rd Kenny ELISSONDE (FRA/SKY) + 6s	6th Antonio MOLINA (ESP/CAJA RURAL - SEGUROS RGA) + 1:06
	8th today + 1:32, Best young rider, Valentin MADOUAS (GROUPAMA - FDJ)
alejandro valverde spain movistar new race leader	alejandro valverde spain movistar new race leader	damien gaudin combativity award
		nacer bouhanni france cofidis lost leaders jersey but keeps points
benat txoperena matxikote gets award for his attack too

Stage 4:  Mirepoix → Cazouls-lès-Béziers, 193 km  Full Results and Report