The Tour de la Provence returns with the Mads Pedersen present – Rouleur

February 12, 2024

Based in 2016, the Tour de la Provence shortly earned a repute as one of the crucial lovely early-season races on the calendar, because it looped round picturesque French area of Provence. However solely months in the past, the way forward for the race was unsure after the 2023 version was cancelled on account of administration issues, and it was removed from sure if the race would return. Due to a small group of buyers, in addition to the founding newspaper La Provence, the race was salvaged. And after a profitable return, it’s protected to say that the Tour de la Provence has been reborn.

This yr’s version opened with a brief however picturesque time trial alongside the seashores of Marseille, whereas the next three levels completed within the picturesque cities of Martigues, Manosque and Arles.

Whereas solely 5 WorldTour groups had been on the beginning line for the primary yr again, the Lidl-Trek group got here with a robust squad led by their star, Mads Pedersen. And so they shortly took management of the race, with Pedersen successful the opening time trial and the 2 following levels. For Pedersen, the Tour de la Provence was his second straight stage race victory after l’Etoile de Bessèges in early February. It’s protected to say that he’s prepared for the spring Classics.

Pedersen was the heavy favorite within the opening time trial, which rolled alongside the Mediterranean seashores within the coronary heart of Marseille. He delivered, taking the stage and the general lead of this four-day race.

Pedersen displays on his victory. Already the winner of l’Etoile de Bessèges, he’s evidently on an early season roll.

Regardless of the sunny opening stage in Marseille, rain greeted the riders at first of stage two in Aix-en-Provence.

Julien Bernard set a gradual tempo on stage two.

Ah, the villages of French Provence! Even when blanketed in winter rains, they take a look all of their very own.

Pedersen made it two-for-two with a powerful dash into the seaside village of Martigues.

The breakaway bought off to an early begin underneath one other daunting day of freezing rain on stage three.

It’s protected to say that lavender fields have a special aura to them come summer time.

Latest Lidl-Trek recruit Tim ‘The Tractor’ Declercq drives the peloton via one other chilly, moist day in Provence.

The breakaway had little time to benefit from the picturesque villages of French Provence as they raced in the direction of the end in Manosque.

 Italy’s Marco Frigo, the final remaining rider from the breakaway, drives in the direction of the end line of stage three.

The Mads Pedersen present continued because the Dane made it three-for-three on stage three in Manosque.

Marco Frigo displays on his near-miss victory after he was caught lower than a kilometre from the road. Pedersen was all smiles at first of stage 4 within the Tour de la Provence. And why shouldn’t he be? In any case, he had simply received the primary three levels of the race, and the solar was shining.

Native pom-pom ladies greeted the riders at first of stage 4 in Rognac.

The peloton made their method via fields of vineyards within the opening kilometres of stage 4.

The peloton rolls via the picturesque city of Arles mid-way via stage 4. Whereas Vincent Van Gogh was maybe the city’s most notable resident, it stays the area’s cultural capital. The breakaway went via the marshes of the French Camargue.

It’s not daily that the race chief could be seen driving the tempo on the entrance, however Pedersen (second from left) took loads of pulls because the pack shattered into quite a few echelons alongside the windswept flatlands of the French Camargue.

The breakaway retains a decent formation alongside the remoted roads of stage 4.

And no, Pedersen didn’t win the ultimate stage of the Tour de la Provence, as an alternative, Belgian sprinter Tom Van Asbroeck pipped Sam Bennett on the line in downtown Arles. Pedersen makes his last spherical of interviews after the end of the Tour de Provence, which he dominated in an incontestable method.