Cycling: Today the small Tour de la Provence started with a prologue in Castellet. Frenchman Alexandre Geniez (AG2R La Mondiale) was able to prevail on the Paul Ricard Formula 1 course ahead of his compatriots Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) and Christophe Laporte (Cofidis). Velomotion reports almost exclusively directly from the racing bike after each day of racing, because our editor Florian Nowak takes part in the tour with his team Lotto Kern-Haus.
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Geniez brings in the next victory
Already a few days ago Alexandre Geniez celebrate his first win of the season. The 29-year-old won the end of January after excellent teamwork Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise. The Frenchman also won his second race of the season. In the 5,8-kilometer prologue on the Paul Ricard Formula 1 circuit, he was the fastest professional with a time of 6:49 minutes. He left the old masters behind by two seconds each Sylvain Chavanel and Christophe Laporte, and his teammates by five seconds tony gallopin, that only on Sunday Etoile de Besseges could decide for himself.
???????? #TDLP2018 - Prologue
2⃣0⃣1⃣8⃣ = 🏆🏆🏆🏆#ALLEZALM - 📷 @Provence pic.twitter.com/83Jq5VKdvF
— AG2RLM Cyclisme (@AG2RLMCyclisme) 8. February 2018
Nowak is in 75th place
With a time of 7:30, our Velomotion editor left Florian Nowak - to stay in the car language - real oldtime classics, like Davide Rebellin (Sovac-Natura4Ever) and Damiano Cunego (Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini) behind. At an average speed of 46,4 km/h, this means 41 seconds behind the winner of the day, Alexandre Geniez, and rank 75. After his drive on the race track, Florian Nowak from Team Lotto Kern-Haus gave his statement:
“Today's prologue was pretty unspectacular for us, because after the long winter break we obviously need a bit to get back into it. Still, it was good to finally start the season. The time trial was held on a former Formula 1 circuit and was correspondingly fast. Despite the wide and good track, some corners weren't that easy to steer. You always notice here that you are in France. The interest of the public is incredibly high and makes it even more fun for us drivers. Of course, the French stars also attract some fans.
Tomorrow we start the first stage. It is a slightly wavy profile. Let's hope the wind doesn't get too strong.
The prologue has everything sorted out, but it could still get chaotic as everyone is really hot at the start of the season – in France anyway. We are excited.”
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1st stage of the Tour de la Provence on February 09.02th: Aubagne – Istres (165,9 kilometers)
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Tour de la Provence: Profile of the 2nd stage on February 10.02th: La Ciotat – Gémenos/Col de l'Espigoulier (144,5 kilometers)
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Profile of the 3rd stage of the Tour de la Provence on February 11.02th: Aix-en-Provence – Marseille (166,7 kilometers)
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