FDJ win team time trial opener at La Méditerranéenne

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The FDJ team won the opening team time trial at the four-day La Méditerranéenne race, with Matthieu Ladagnous their first rider across the line and so the first race leader.

The opening team time trial covered a 5.5km course, with rain and wet roads making a real test of nerve for the riders racing in close formation. The opening stage was held around the town of Banyoles, in the Catalan region of Spain, close to the French border. Other stages will be held in France, before a final circuit stage in Italy as the race jumps along the Mediterranean coast.

FDJ was one of the last teams to start and set a time of 6:00, covering the course at over 55kmh. Astana was a close second, finishing just half a second slower than their French rivals. Direct Energie was third in 6:08, with Cofidis fourth at 6:11.

The US-based Rally Cycling team finished a solid eighth in a time of 6:18, with new team leader Danny Pate bringing home the team ahead of Rob Britton and Evan Huffman.

It is the first team time trial victory in the long history of the FDJ team and comes as riders use a new Lapierre Aerostorm time trial bike. Also in the FDJ squad for the race are sprinter Arnaud Demare, Mickael Delage, Odd Christian Eiking, Ignatas Konovalovas, Marc Sarreau and Alexandre Geniez.

Ladagnous will wear the race leader’s jersey on the second stage from Banyuls sur Mer to nearby Port Vendres. The stage heads into the hills with 1500m of climbing before diving back down to the Mediterranean. 

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