Tommy Voeckler of Direct Energie has won the opening stage of the Tour de la Provence race.
This new race in the Rhone region in France started with a 169km stage from Aubagne to Cassis and on a bright day, Julien Antomarchi, Nicolas Edet, Romain Feillu, Jean-Christophe Peraud, Thomas Rostollan and Thomas Voeckler got into the first break of the day.
It was a break which came together just after the Côte du Pigeonnier climb and was one that was 3.15 ahead with just over one hundred kilometres to go.
With sixty kilometres to go, their lead stood at three minutes and at 2.45 twenty kilometres later.
Riders started to drop off the front and with ten kilometres left to race, only Tommy Voeckler was left out of the original escapers.
The final climb had gradients over over 15% but Voeckler was away and he took the win with Petr Vakoc of Etixx Quick Step in second place, followed by Lillian Calmejane.
Picture courtesy of Tour De La Province.