February 1, 2026
Up to this point, we have seen a lot of the hot Aussie Summer and the desert of the Middle East but we've finally made it to the opening day of racing in France. Over the 146KM of racing, there is hardly a meter of flat road. Right from the start, the riders ascend two uncategorized climbs before hitting the Pas de la Couelle, a 7.7KM climb at 3.6%. The highest point comes halfway through the race at the top of the Col d'Espigoulier. At the base of the descent in Gémenos, the road rises again, up to the motor racing circuit of Le Castellet, through Roquefort-la-Bédoule and down into Cassis with 20KM remaining. Out of Cassis, the road climbs for the next 10KM at an average of around 5% with the last 1.3KM on the Col de la Gineste. The final 10KM is a plunge into Marseille for the finish.
Race Summary
The weather was perfect for an early February race in Provence, cool but sunny with light winds. There was an original break that made it to 60KM to go but they were caught as Cofidis were pushing on in the peloton. The race lit up and with 49KM to go, a group of 20 riders were off the front and at least 30 riders where chasing just behind on the gentle slopes of Le Castellet. The two groups merged with 47.5KM to go and an attack immediately went with Jordan Labrosse of Decathlon CMA CGM, Tomáš Kopecký of Unibet Rose Rockets, Lorenzo Germani of Groupama-FDJ United, Stefano Oldani of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, and Clément Izquierdo of Cofidis but they were caught back right at the top.
A new group split off of eleven riders and they built 40 seconds with 38KM to go. The only major team to miss the move was Lotto Intermarché so the front group was keen to work to make this the first real selection of the finale. Group two swelled to over 70 riders and when the race arrived in Roquefort-la-Bédoule with 28.5KM to go, the gap was down to 25 seconds. The late afternoon sunshine was casting long shadows on the road as the riders passed the many Cypress and Pine trees that make of the forests of the region. Cofidis were not happy with their representation at the front so they were working with Lotto Intermarché in the chase. On the final small ramps before the descent into Cassis, the lead group were caught and everything reset with 25KM to go.
The sweeping descent provided magnificent views of the sea and surrounding mountains but the riders weren't hanging around to take a picture. Paul Lapeira of Decathlon CMA CGM opened a gap on the downhill of 21 seconds but the peloton were charging as the road tipped back upward and were chipping away at the gap. Lapeira was within touching distance when Andrea Mifsud of Polti-VisitMalta went on the attack and quickly bridged up. The duo were hauled back as counter attacks were firing off on the gently dragging slope. Unibet Rose Rockets and TotalEnergies got control of the bunch and set a pace making it hard for anyone to attack which made a bunch sprint seem like the likely outcome.
The view at the top of the Col de la Gineste was stunning as the camera shots panned across the sea, white rock outcroppings of the Calanques Mountains, and the metropolis of Marseille. Mifsud made one last ditch effort and created a gap right at the top. He was followed by Louis Hardouin of Van Rysel Roubaix and Axel Mariault of CIC Pro Cycling Academy and the trio worked well on the descent. They hit the flat road into Marseille with a good lead of around 10 seconds and fully committed to each other to stay away. The gap was 5 seconds with 2KM to go.
The catch was made with 1,100M to go and the lead out trains were already formed with Polti-VisitMalta side by side with Lotto Intermarché. The distinct voice of Daniel Mangeas rang through the finishing straight as he called the riders in. Cofidis came to challenge and the sprint opened up when the last rider pulled off for Bryan Coquard. Coquard took to the barrier on his right side and he was followed by Steffen De Schuyteneer of Lotto Intermarché and Nicolò Buratti of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort. De Schuyteneer tried to draw level with Coquard but couldn't get another burst of speed and Coquard crossed the line with a clean set of wheels to De Schuyteneer. Buratti faded in the last 50M and missed out on the last podium spot by half a wheel to Alex Molenaar of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.