Tour of Mediterranean, Cat 2.4

France, February 12-16, 1997

1996 Results and Reports 

  • Stage 1

  • Stage 2

  • Stage 3

  • Stage 4

  • Stage 5

  • Stage 6

    • Preview

    Starting in Beziers on February 12, this year's Tour Mediterraneen follows the tradition of the race by finishing, on February 16, on the climb up to Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde in Marseille. As last year, the race again takes in the climb of Mont Faron at Toulon. Twenty-two teams are signed up for the race, won last year by Frank Vandenbroucke, including Mapei-GB, Telekom, MG, Polti, and all the French teams.

    The stages:

    February 12: Stage 1, Beziers--La-Grande-Motte (107km)
February 13: Stage 2A, Arles--Rognac (80km)
February 14: Stage 3, La Fare-les-Oliviers--Antibes (218km)
February 15: Stage 4, Cannes--Toulon (Mont Faron) (141km)
February 16: Stage 5, Hy=E8res--Marseille (Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde) (131km)

    Principal Participants

    FESTINA (France): Virenque, Dufaux (Sui), Rous, Herve, Stephens (Aus)
COFIDIS (France): Fondriest (Ita), Capelle, Julich (USA)
FRANCAISE DES JEUX (France): Heulot,Sciandri(Ita), Seigneur
GAN (France): Hubert, Pensec, Sunderland (Aus), Vogels (Aus)
CASINO (France): Richard (Sui), Chanteur, Kirsipuu (Est), Massi (Ita)
BIGMAT-AUBER (France) : Arroyo (Mex), Lino, Lance
MUTUELLE (France) : Dojwa, Delrieu, Fraser (Can)
MAPEI (ITALY): Svorada (Cze), Ballerini, Tafi, Pianegonda, Nardello, Spruch, Missaglia
MG-TECHNOGYM (ITALY): Baldato, Bartoli, Copollilo
POLTI (ITALY): Merckx (Bel), Outchakov (Ukr), Gualdi
BATIK (ITALY): G. Colombo, Frattini
SAECO (ITALY): Cipollini, F. Casagrande, Petito
LOTTO (BELGIUM): Abdujaparov (Uzb), Tchmil (Rus). Feys, Willems
VLAANDEREN 2002 (BELGIUM): Roosen, D'Hollander, Aerts
CEDICO (BELGIUM): Kozilitine (Kaz)
RABOBANK (NETHERLAND): Luttenberger (Aut), Breuking, Bruynel (Bel), Boogerd
TVM (NETHERLAND): Roux (Fra), Capiot (Bel), Hoffmann, Michaelsen (Den), Knaven
TELEKOM (GERMANY): Henn,Heppner, Lombardi (Ita), Kummer, Boelts, Totschnig (Aut)
SCHAUF (GERMANY): Trumheller
ROSLOTTO (RUSSIA): Ferrigato (Ita), Konichev, Gontchenkov
AKI (MONACO): Zanette (Ita), Sironi (Ita)
POST SWISS TEAM (SWITZERLAND): Bourquenoud

    Last ten years winners:

    1996: Frank Vandenbroucke
1995: Gianni Bugno
1994: Davide Cassani
1993: Charly Mottet
1992: Rolf Gvlz
1991: Phil Anderson
1989: Tony Rominger
1988: Jan Nevens
1987: Gerrit Solleveld
1986: Jean-Frangois Bernard.

    Stage 1: Beziers--La-Grande-Motte, 107 km:

     1. Mario Cipollini (Italy) Saeco             2.11.16   (48.908 km/h)
 2. Massimo Strazzer (Italy) Roslotto
 3. Fabio Baldato (Italy) MG-Technogym
 4. Endrio Leoni (Italy) Aki
 5. Giovanni Lombardi (Italy) Telekom
 6. Stephane Barthe (France) Casino           
 7. Cristophe Capelle (Fra) Cofidis
 8. Jean-Jacques Henry (Fra) Big Mat-Auber
 9. Jann Kirsipuu (Est) Casino
10. Gert van Bondt (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002    all s.t

Peloton with the same time as Cipollini

    Overall after Stage 1:

     1. Mario Cipollini (Italy) Saeco             2.11.16
 2. Massimo Strazzer (Italy) Roslotto          + 0.04
 3. Fabio Baldato (Italy) MG-Technogym         + 0.06
 4. Endrio Leoni (Italy) Aki                   + 0.10
 5. Giovanni Lombardi (Italy) Telekom
 6. Stephane Barthe (France) Casino           
 7. Cristophe Capelle (Fra) Cofidis
 8. Jean-Jacques Henry (Fra) Big Mat-Auber
 9. Jann Kirsipuu (Est) Casino
10. Gert van Bondt (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002       all s.t.

    Report

    "[Paulo] Fornaciari raised the pace after the kilometre red banner and then [Gianmatteo] Fagnini took the head of the peloton before the last corner. After that I went off his wheel and won without any problems." Thus Mario Cipollini on his 97th individual career victory and the first of the season (including 9 criterium wins -- he also has a team trial win on his palmares from the 1993 Tour de France). Earlier in the day, one of Super Mario's chief rivals, Mapei's Jan Svorada, had retired, suffering from a high fever.=20

    The first break of the short stage came early -- after just 7km -- when Francisque Teyssier (GAN) and Tristan Hoffman (TVM) attacked, being joined at km28 by Bourguignon (BigMat-Auber), Casagranda (MG), Breukink (Rabobank) and Walzer (Schauff). The break had built a lead of 2.32 by km40 but Festina and Saeco had taken up the chase and they were caught 25km from the finish. Saeco took charge in the three 5.5km finishing circuits. Cipollini, by the way, was wearing his latest fashion accessory -- tricolore (red, white, green to match his Italian national champion's jersey) socks embossed "Mario".

    Stage 2, Arles-Rognac, 72 km:

     1. Cipollini (Ita)  	1.31.45
 2. Baldato (Ita)
 3. Vogels (Aus)
 4. Strazzer (Ita)
 5. Capiot (Bel)
 6. Fraser (Can)
 7. Leoni (Ita)
 8. Kirsipuu (Est)
 9. Zanotti (Ita)
10. Simon (Fra)		all s.t.

    Stage 3, Team Time Trial, Berre-Velaux, 18.9 km:

     1. Festina                   		     21.51.85
 2. Batik                                	 5.25 
 3. Saeco                                	23.76 
 4. Polti                               	26.57
 5. Roslotto                             	30.63
 6. GAN                                  	30.86
 7. Casino                               	42.00
 8. AKI                                  	45.02
 9. Rabobank                             	46.94
 10. Telekom                             	49.96

    GC after Stages 2 and 3

     1. Emmanuel Magnien (France) Festina  		4.02.05
 2. Richard Virenque (France) Festina
 3. Didier Rous (France) Festina
 4. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina
 5. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Festina  	all s.t. 
 6. Francesco Frattini (Italy) Batik       	   4.25
 7. Jon Odriozola (Spain) Batik
 8. Luca Colombo (Italy) Batik
 9. Simone Bertoletti (Italy) Batik
10. Gabriele Colombo (Italy) Batik   		all s.t.

    Report

    Frenchman Emmanuel Magnien, from Festina, is the new overall leader of the Tour of the Mediterranean after his team won the 19 Km. Team Time Trial on the third stage sontested with a time of 21 minutes and 51 seconds, five seconds less than Italian Team Batik.

    Mario Cipollini, the winner in the sprint of stage one, was also involved in today's road stage. The Italian cyclist from Team Saeco laid down the law again in the sprint. Cipollini won the second stage which was raced in the morning, with a 72 kilometer route, between Arles and Rognac, with a new sample of his speed. His compatriot, Fabio Baldato, another sprinter, was second. The fourth stage will be disputed tomorrow, between Fare Les Oliviers and Antibes, with 218 kilometers.

    Stage 4, La-Fare-Les-Oliviers-Antibes, 214 km:

     1. Massimo Strazzer (Ita) Roslotto-ZG     5.11.24
 2. Jann Kirsipuu (Let) Casino
 3. Stephane Barthe (Fra) Casino
 4. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco
 5. Fabio Baldato (Ita) MG
 6. Johan Capiot (Bel) TVM
 7. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik
 8. Sergei Usciakov (Ukr) Polti
 9. Mario Aerts (Bel) Vlaanderen
10. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Aki                  all s.t.

    Overall after Stage 4:

     1. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Festina         9.16.26
 2. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina            s.t.
 3. Didier Rous (Fra) Festina                 s.t.
 4. Laurent Dufaux (Sch) Festina              s.t
 5. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik          + 0.04
 6. Jon Odriozola (Spa) Batik                 s.t.
 7. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik              s.t.
 8. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco             + 0.07
 9. Massimo Strazzer (Ita) Roslotto-ZG      + 0.14 
10. Fabio Baldato (Ita) MG                  + 0.19

    Report - Stage 4

    Italian Massimo Strazzer, from Team Roslotto, surprised in the sprint of the fourth stage, of 214 kilometers between La-Fare-Les-Oliviers and Antibes, of the Tour of the Mediterranean, whose overall is still led by Frenchman Emmanuel Magnien (Festina). Strazzer attacked at 150 meters from the finish and was able to beat Stonian Jann Kirsipuu and Frenchman Stephane Barthe, second and third respectively, while the Italian specialists Mario Cipollini and Fabio Baldato and belgian Johan Capiot had to conform themselves with the following positions. The stage, one of the longets in the race, was controlled by the leader's teammates (Festina), who take care of the breakaway attempts of Swiss Pascal Richard, Dutch Gerrit De Vries and Italian Stefano Casagrande. The penultimate stage will be disputed tomorrow, between Cannes and Toulon, with 141 kilometers, with the climb to Mont Faron.

    Stage 5, Cannes-Toulon (Mont Faron) 141 km:

     1. Michele Bartoli (Ita) MG                4.01.21
 2. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Festina           + 0.19
 3. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik           + 0.20
 4. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino               + 0.23
 5. Mirko Celestino (Ita) Polti              + 0.26
 6. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Saeco         + 0.32
 7. Scott Sunderland (Aus) Gan               + 0.39
 8. Alexander Gontsjenkov (Rus) Roslotto     + 0.48
 9. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank           + 0.51
10. Didier Rous (Fra) Festina                + 0.53

    Overall after Stage 5:

     1. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Festina         13.18.00
 2. Michele Bartoli (Ita) MG                 + 0.04
 3. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik           + 0.07
 4. Mirko Celestino (Ita) Batik              + 0.39
 5. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Saeco         + 0.42
 6. Didier Rous (Fra) Festina                + 0.50
 7. Rodolfo Massi (Ita)  Casino              + 0.52
 8. Scott Sunderland (Aus) Gan               + 0.56
 9. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina           + 0.59
10. Alexander Gontsjenkov (Rus) Roslotto     + 1.05

    Report Stage 5

    Italian Michele Bartoli (MG) won the fifth stage of the Tour of the Mediterranean, disputed between Cannes and Toulon, over 141 kilometers. Frenchman Emmanuel Magnien is the overall leader with a four second advantage over Bartoli. Both had an exciting duel, in a stage marked by the cloimb to Mont Faron. Magnien climbed well, which allowed him to continue with the yellow jersey. Even after his good ride, the Frenchman came in to the finish line 19 seconds after the Italian.

    Stage 6 and Final, Hyeres-Marseille, 124 kms:

     1. Alexander Gonchenkov (Russia) Roslotto 	    3.08.18
 2. Michele Bartoli (Italy) MG Technogym 
 3. Emmanuel Magnien (France) Festina 
 4. Francesco Casagrande (Italy) Saeco 
 5. Maurizio Fondriest (Italy) Cofidis 
 6. Giusepe Tartaggia (Italy) Batik 
 7. Zbigniew Spruch (Poland) Mapei 
 8. Richard Virenque (France) Festina 
 9. Scott Sunderland (Austalia) GAN 
10. Christophe Mengin (France) Francaise des jeux, all s.t.

    Final overall standings: 

     1. Emmanuel Magnien (France) Festina 		    16.21.14
 2. Michele Bartoli (Italy) MG Technogym 		0.02 
 3. Francesco Frattini (Italy) Batik               	0.11
 4. Mirko Celestino (Italy) Polti                  	0.43
 5. Francesco Casagrande (Italy) Saeco             	0.46
 6. Alexander Gonchenkov (Russia) Roslotto         	0.59
 7. Scoot Sunderland (Australia) Gan             	1:00
 8. Richard Virenque (France) Festina            	1:03
 9. Didier Rous (France) Festina                 	1:12 
10. Rodolfo Massi (Italy) Casino                 	1:21
11. Michael Boogerd (Netherland) Rabobank               1.28
12. Daniele Sgnaolin (Italy) Roslotto                   1.57
13. Fabrice Gougot (France) Casino                      2.03
14. Mirko Gualdi (Italy) Polti                          2.07
15. Roberto Petito (Italy) Saeco                        2.31
16. Miguel Arroyo (Mexico) Big-Mat                      2.41
17. Zbiniew Spruch (Poland) Mapei                       2.25
18. Heinrich Trumheller (Germany) Schauff               2.50
19. Roman Pensec (France) Gan                           2.50
20. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Festina                2.52

    Report Stage 6

    French cyclist Emmanuel Magnien, from French team Festina, won the 24th edition of the Tour of the Mediterranean, which concluded today in Marseilles. The victory of the last stage between Hyeres and Marseilles, with 128.2 kilometers, was for Russian Alexandre Gontchenkov (Roslotto) who beat in the sprint, Italain Bartoli and Magnien. The French cyclist in this way achieves the most important win of his professional career, which he cemented in the Team Time Trial, some days ago when Festina won the stage. Emmanuel Magnien, born 25 years ago and a pro since 1993, attended the race by coincidence, since in the beginning his team didn't have him programmed for this race which was dominated mostly by Italians who won four stages.