Tour Méditerranéen
| 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 |
| 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 prior to 2016) is a professional road bicycle racing event held in Spain, France and Italy. Previously it was held solely in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea.
The Tour Méditerranéen was a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event. From 1974 to 1977, the race was named Trophée Méditerranéen. The race has been won by many notable Grand Tour and world champion riders including Eddy Merckx, Gianni Bugno, Gerrie Knetemann (three times), and Paolo Bettini.
The 2012 edition of the race was nearly cancelled, due to a licensing problem between the organizers and the French Cycling Federation. However, a deal was reached and the race went ahead as scheduled.[1] After financial difficulties, the 2015 edition was initially thought to be able to go ahead, with a reduction in the number of stages from 5 to 3, including the loss of the traditional mountain stage at Mont Faron near Toulon.[2] However, the race was cancelled for 2015, with the organisers yet to pay debts from the previous year. It is hoped for a return in 2016.[3] The new re-imagined race, La Méditerranéenne, will be contested over four days and will span Spain, France and Italy.[4] The race will retain its 2.1 rating and place in the UCI Europe Tour.[5]
Winners of Tour Méditerranéen
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Winners of La Méditerranéenne
| Rider | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | |
Hrivko, AndriyAndriy Hrivko (UKR) | Astana |
References
- ↑ "Tour Méditéranéen in peril".
- ↑ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-cycliste-mditerranen-route-announced
- ↑ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-mditerranen-will-not-take-place-in-2015
- ↑ http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new-four-day-race-la-mditerranenne-reveals-stage-starts-and-finishes/
- ↑ http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=165954
- ↑ http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2012/race-history
External links
- Official website (French)