Tour Méditerranéen

Tour Méditerranéen
La Méditerranéenne
Race details
Date February
Region Spain
France
Italy
English name Mediterranean Tour
Local name(s) Tour Méditerranéen (French)
Discipline Road
Competition UCI Europe Tour
Type Stage race
Organiser Association Olympique Mediterranée
Race director André Martres
History
First edition 1974 (1974)
Editions 42 (as of 2016)
First winner  Charles Rouxel (FRA)
Most wins  Gerrie Knetemann (NED) (3 wins)
Most recent  Andriy Hrivko (UKR)

La Méditerranéenne, previously known as Tour Méditerranéen, is a professional road bicycle racing event held in Spain, France and Italy, close to the Mediterranean Seaside. Run over four days, it holds a 2.1 rating on the UCI Europe Tour.[1]

The event is part of a series of stage races being held in the south of France in February, alongside the Étoile de Bessèges, the Tour du Haut Var and the Tour La Provence.[2] These early-season races are competed mainly by French teams and are considered preparations for Paris–Nice, the first European World Tour event in March.[2]

History

The Tour Méditerranéen ("Tour of the Mediterranean Sea") was created by former Tour de France winner Lucien Aimar in 1974. The event was named Trophée Méditerranéen for its first four editions. Run in February, the five-day stage race was won by several eminent riders, including Eddy Merckx, Gianni Bugno, Tony Rominger, Laurent Jalabert and Paolo Bettini.[3] Gerrie Knetemann holds the record with three victories.[4]

In 2012 licensing problems between the organizers and the French Cycling Federation emerged, nearly spelling the cancellation of the event before a deal was ultimately reached.[5] Financial difficulties led to the discontinuation of the race in 2015 after organizers failed to pay debts from the previous edition.[6]

In 2016 the race was revived as La Méditerranéenne and scaled back to four days.[3] The rejuvenated edition was won by Ukrainian Andriy Hrivko.[7]

Route

From 1974 until 2014 the race was held in the southern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, but also occasionally featured stages in Liguria, Italy. Traditionally, a summit finish on the Mont Faron in Toulon was staged every year. As from 2016, the re-invented La Méditerranéenne is contested over four days. The 2016 edition spanned three countries, starting with a team time trial in Banyoles, Spain, before heading into France for two stages close to the Mediterranean coast. The final stage started and finished in Bordighera, on the Italian riviera.[3]

Winners

Tour Méditerranéen

Gerrie Knetemann (pictured in 1977) won the event three times.
Rider Team
1974 France Rouxel, CharlesCharles Rouxel (FRA) Peugeot-BP-Michelin
1975 Belgium Bruyere, JosephJoseph Bruyère (BEL) Molteni
1976 Netherlands Schuiten, RoyRoy Schuiten (NED) Lejeune-BP
1977 Belgium Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) Fiat France
1978 Netherlands Knetemann, GerrieGerrie Knetemann (NED) TI-Raleigh
1979 France Laurent, MichelMichel Laurent (FRA) Peugeot-Esso-Michelin
1980 Netherlands Knetemann, GerrieGerrie Knetemann (NED) TI-Raleigh
1981 Switzerland Mutter, StefanStefan Mutter (SUI) Cilo-Aufina
1982 France Laurent, MichelMichel Laurent (FRA) Peugeot-Shell-Michelin
1983 Netherlands Knetemann, GerrieGerrie Knetemann (NED) TI-Raleigh
1984 France Bagot, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Bagot (FRA) Skil-Reydel
1985 Australia Anderson, PhilPhil Anderson (AUS) Panasonic
1986 France Bernard, Jean FrancoisJean-François Bernard (FRA) La Vie Claire
1987 Netherlands Solleveld, GerritGerrit Solleveld (NED) Superconfex–Kwantum–Yoko–Colnago
1988 Belgium Nevens, JanJan Nevens (BEL) Sigma-Fina
1989 Switzerland Rominger, TonyTony Rominger (SUI) Chateau d'Ax
1990 France Rue, GerardGerard Rué (FRA) Castorama
1991 Australia Anderson, PhilPhil Anderson (AUS) Motorola
1992 Germany Golz, RolfRolf Gölz (GER) Ariostea
1993 France Mottet, CharlyCharly Mottet (FRA) Novemail-Histor
1994 Italy Cassani, DavideDavide Cassani (ITA) GB-MG Maglificio
1995 Italy Bugno, GianniGianni Bugno (ITA) MG Maglificio-Technogym
1996 Belgium Vandenbroucke, FranckFranck Vandenbroucke (BEL) Mapei-GB
1997 France Magnien, EmmanuelEmmanuel Magnien (FRA) Festina-Lotus
1998 Italy Massi, RodolfoRodolfo Massi (ITA) Casino–Ag2r
1999 Italy Rebellin, DavideDavide Rebellin (ITA) Polti
2000 France Jalabert, LaurentLaurent Jalabert (FRA) ONCE–Deutsche Bank
2001 Italy Rebellin, DavideDavide Rebellin (ITA) Liquigas–Pata
2002 Italy Bartoli, MicheleMichele Bartoli (ITA) Fassa Bortolo
2003 Italy Bettini, PaoloPaolo Bettini (ITA) Quick-Step–Davitamon
2004 Germany Jaksche, JorgJörg Jaksche (GER) Team CSC
2005 Germany Voigt, JensJens Voigt (GER) Team CSC
2006 France Dessel, CyrilCyril Dessel (FRA) AG2R Prévoyance
2007 Spain Gutierrez, IvanIván Gutiérrez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
2008 Russia Botcharov, AlexandreAlexandre Botcharov (RUS) Crédit Agricole
2009 Spain Sanchez, Luis LeonLuis León Sánchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
2010 Italy Nocentini, RinaldoRinaldo Nocentini (ITA) Ag2r–La Mondiale
2011 France Moncoutié, DavidDavid Moncoutié (FRA) Cofidis
2012 United Kingdom Tiernan-Locke, JonathanJonathan Tiernan-Locke (GBR) Endura Racing
2013 Sweden Löfkvist, ThomasThomas Löfkvist (SWE) IAM Cycling
2014 United Kingdom Cummings, SteveSteve Cummings (GBR) BMC Racing Team
2015 No race

La Méditerranéenne

Rider Team
2016 Ukraine Hrivko, AndriyAndriy Hrivko (UKR) Astana

References

External links

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