2018 Tour La Provence

{{Infobox cycling race report

| name = 2018 Tour La Provence

| series = UCI Europe Tour

| race_no =

| season_no =

| image =

| image_caption =

| image_alt =

| date = 8–11 February 2017

| stages = 4

| distance = 482.9

| unit = km

| time = 12h 13' 05"{{cite web|title=Tour de La Provence: 3ème étape Aix en Provence - Marseille|trans-title=Tour de La Provence: 3rd stage Aix en Provence - Marseille|language=French|format=PDF|url=http://stsport.fr/IMG/pdf/3eme_etape_aix_en_provence_-_marseille-2.pdf|work=STSport.fr|publisher=Systèmes et Techniques du Sport|date=11 February 2018|accessdate=31 October 2018}}

| speed =

| first = Alexandre Geniez

| first_nat = France

| first_team = {{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}

| first_color = blue

| second = Tony Gallopin

| second_nat = France

| second_team = {{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}

| third = Rudy Molard

| third_nat = France

| third_team = {{UCI team code|FDJ|2018a}}

| points = Christophe Laporte

| points_nat = France

| points_team = {{UCI team code|COF|2018}}

| points_color = green

| mountains = Diego Pablo Sevilla

| mountains_nat = Spain

| mountains_team = {{UCI team code|PLK|2018}}

| mountains_color = red

| youth = Mathias Le Turnier

| youth_nat = France

| youth_team = {{UCI team code|COF|2018}}

| youth_color = white

| team = {{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}

| previous = 2017

| next = 2019

}}

The 2018 Tour La Provence was a road cycling stage race that took place between 8 and 11 February 2018. The race was rated as a 2.1 event as part of the 2018 UCI Europe Tour, and was the third edition of the Tour La Provence.{{cite web | url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-cycliste-international-la-provence/2018/gc/overview | title=2018 Tour La Provence | work=ProCyclingStats | accessdate=31 October 2018}}

The race was won by French rider Alexandre Geniez,{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur-route/Actualites/Tour-la-provence-alexandre-geniez-vainqueur-de-la-3e-edition/874988|language=French|title=Tour La Provence : Alexandre Geniez vainqueur de la 3e édition|trans-title=Alexandre Geniez winner of the third edition|work=L'Équipe|publisher=Éditions Philippe Amaury|date=11 February 2018|accessdate=31 October 2018}} of the {{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}.

Teams

Sixteen teams were invited to start the race. These included two UCI WorldTeams, eight UCI Professional Continental teams and six UCI Continental teams.{{cite web|title=Tour de La Provence - Liste des partants|trans-title=Tour de La Provence - Start list|language=French|format=PDF|url=http://stsport.fr/IMG/pdf/tourdelaprovence-listedesengages-horairededeparts.pdf|work=STSport.fr|publisher=Systèmes et Techniques du Sport|date=8 February 2018|accessdate=26 February 2018}}

{{cyclingteamlist|year=2018|title=UCI WorldTeams|ALM|team1={{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}}}

{{cyclingteamlist|year=2018|title=UCI Professional Continental teams|COF|DMP|team1=Euskadi–Murias|NIP|TDE|TFO|VCC|WVA}}

{{cyclingteamlist|year=2018|title=UCI Continental teams|AMO|AUB|LKH|PLK|RLM|SNE}}

Route

class="wikitable" \|+Stage schedule
scope="col" \| Stage ! scope="col" \| Date ! scope="col" \| Route ! scope="col" \| Distance !colspan="2" scope="col" \| Type ! scope="col" \| Winner
scope="row" \| P \| 8 February \| Castellet to Castellet \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{convert\|5.8\|km\|0\|abbr=on}} \| Image:Time Trial.svg \|\| Individual time trial \| {{flagathlete\|Alexandre Geniez\|FRA}}
scope="row" \| 1 \| 9 February \| Aubagne to Istres \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{convert\|165.9\|km\|0\|abbr=on}} \| Image:Hillystage.svg \|\| Hilly stage \| {{flagathlete\|Christophe Laporte\|FRA}}
scope="row"\| 2 \| 10 February \| La Ciotat to Gémenos - Col de l'Espigoulier \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{convert\|144.5\|km\|0\|abbr=on}} \| Image:Mediummountainstage.svg \|\| Medium-mountain stage \| {{flagathlete\|Rémy Di Gregorio\|FRA}}
scope="row"\| 3 \| 11 February \| Aix-en-Provence to Marseille \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{convert\|166.7\|km\|0\|abbr=on}} \| Image:Hillystage.svg \|\| Hilly stage \| {{flagathlete\|Christophe Laporte\|FRA}}

class="wikitable"

|+Stage schedule

scope="col" | Stage

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Route

! scope="col" | Distance

!colspan="2" scope="col" | Type

! scope="col" | Winner

scope="row" | P

| 8 February

| Castellet to Castellet

| style="text-align:center;" | {{convert|5.8|km|0|abbr=on}}

| Image:Time Trial.svg || Individual time trial

| {{flagathlete|Alexandre Geniez|FRA}}

scope="row" | 1

| 9 February

| Aubagne to Istres

| style="text-align:center;" | {{convert|165.9|km|0|abbr=on}}

| Image:Hillystage.svg || Hilly stage

| {{flagathlete|Christophe Laporte|FRA}}

scope="row"| 2

| 10 February

| La Ciotat to Gémenos - Col de l'Espigoulier

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|144.5|km|0|abbr=on}}

| Image:Mediummountainstage.svg || Medium-mountain stage

| {{flagathlete|Rémy Di Gregorio|FRA}}

scope="row"| 3

| 11 February

| Aix-en-Provence to Marseille

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|166.7|km|0|abbr=on}}

| Image:Hillystage.svg || Hilly stage

| {{flagathlete|Christophe Laporte|FRA}}

Stages

=Prologue=

;8 February 2018 — Castellet to Castellet, {{convert|5.8|km|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Tour de La Provence: Prologue Castellet - Castellet|language=French|format=PDF|url=http://stsport.fr/IMG/pdf/prologue_-_circuit_paul_ricard.pdf|work=STSport.fr|publisher=Systèmes et Techniques du Sport|date=8 February 2018|accessdate=26 February 2018}}

{{cyclingresult start|title=Result of Prologue & General classification after Prologue}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Alexandre Geniez|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|6' 49"|20px 20px 20px}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Sylvain Chavanel|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 2"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Christophe Laporte|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 2"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Tony Gallopin|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 5"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Rudy Molard|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|6|Yoann Paillot|FRA|{{UCI team code|AUB|2018}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Jérémy Cabot|FRA|{{UCI team code|RLM|2018}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|8|Marc Sarreau|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 8"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|Bruno Armirail|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 8"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|10|Anthony Perez|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 10"}}

=Stage 1=

;9 February 2018 — Aubagne to Istres, {{convert|165.9|km|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Tour de La Provence: 1ere étape Aubagne - Istres|trans-title=Tour de La Provence: 1st stage Aubagne - Istres|language=French|format=PDF|url=http://stsport.fr/IMG/pdf/1ere_etape_aubagne_-_istres-2.pdf|work=STSport.fr|publisher=Systèmes et Techniques du Sport|date=9 February 2018|accessdate=26 February 2018}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Christophe Laporte|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|4h 04' 44"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Eduard-Michael Grosu|ROM|{{UCI team code|NIP|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Pierre Barbier|FRA|{{UCI team code|RLM|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Rudy Barbier|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Lilian Calmejane|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Dorian Godon|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|8|Youcef Reguigui|ALG|{{UCI team code|SNE|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|Jonas Van Genechten|BEL|{{UCI team code|VCC|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|10|Justin Jules|FRA|{{UCI team code|WVA|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult start|title=General classification after Stage 1}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Alexandre Geniez|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|4h 11' 13"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Sylvain Chavanel|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 2"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Christophe Laporte|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 2"|20px 20px}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Tony Gallopin|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 5"}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Rudy Molard|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|6|Yoann Paillot|FRA|{{UCI team code|AUB|2018}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Jérémy Cabot|FRA|{{UCI team code|RLM|2018}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|8|Marc Sarreau|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 8"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|Bruno Armirail|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 8"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|10|Anthony Perez|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 10"}}

=Stage 2=

;10 February 2018 — La Ciotat to Gémenos - Col de l'Espigoulier, {{convert|144.5|km|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Tour de La Provence: 2eme étape La Ciotat - Gémenos|trans-title=Tour de La Provence: 2nd stage La Ciotat - Gémenos|language=French|format=PDF|url=http://stsport.fr/IMG/pdf/2eme_etape_la_ciotat_-_gemenos.pdf|work=STSport.fr|publisher=Systèmes et Techniques du Sport|date=10 February 2018|accessdate=26 February 2018}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Rémy Di Gregorio|FRA|{{UCI team code|DMP|2018}}|3h 46' 05"}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Lilian Calmejane|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Tony Gallopin|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Jonathan Hivert|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Mathias Le Turnier|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|6|Rudy Molard|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Alexandre Geniez|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 0"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|8|David Gaudu|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|Mathias Frank|SUI|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 3"}}

{{cyclingresult|10|Sylvain Chavanel|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 9"}}

{{cyclingresult start|title=General classification after Stage 2}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Alexandre Geniez|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|7h 57' 38"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Tony Gallopin|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 5"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Rudy Molard|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Sylvain Chavanel|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 11"}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Lilian Calmejane|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 13"|20px 20px}}

{{cyclingresult|6|Mathias Le Turnier|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 14"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Mathias Frank|SUI|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 16"}}

{{cyclingresult|8|Jonathan Hivert|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 19"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|David Gaudu|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 24"}}

{{cyclingresult|10|Quentin Pacher|FRA|{{UCI team code|VCC|2018}}|+ 41"}}

= Stage 3 =

;11 February 2018 — Aix-en-Provence to Marseille, {{convert|166.7|km|0|abbr=on}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Christophe Laporte|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|4h 15' 27"}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Pierre Barbier|FRA|{{UCI team code|RLM|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Jonas Van Genechten|BEL|{{UCI team code|VCC|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Samuel Dumoulin|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Romain Feillu|FRA|{{UCI team code|AUB|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|6|Jérémy Leveau|FRA|{{UCI team code|DMP|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Damiano Cima|ITA|{{UCI team code|NIP|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|8|Marc Sarreau|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|Romain Hardy|FRA|{{UCI team code|TFO|2018}}|+ 0"}}

{{cyclingresult|1|Alexandre Geniez|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|12h 13' 05"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|2|Tony Gallopin|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 5"}}

{{cyclingresult|3|Rudy Molard|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 7"}}

{{cyclingresult|4|Sylvain Chavanel|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 11"}}

{{cyclingresult|5|Lilian Calmejane|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 13"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|6|Mathias Le Turnier|FRA|{{UCI team code|COF|2018}}|+ 14"|20px}}

{{cyclingresult|7|Mathias Frank|SUI|{{UCI team code|ALM|2018}}|+ 16"}}

{{cyclingresult|8|Jonathan Hivert|FRA|{{UCI team code|TDE|2018}}|+ 19"}}

{{cyclingresult|9|David Gaudu|FRA|{{UCI team code|GFC|2018b}}|+ 24"}}

{{cyclingresult|10|Quentin Pacher|FRA|{{UCI team code|VCC|2018}}|+ 41"}}

Classification leadership table

In the 2018 Tour La Provence, four different jerseys were awarded for the main classifications. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, the leader received a blue jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2018 Tour La Provence, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a mass-start stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 20 for second, 16 for third, 13 for fourth, 11 for fifth with a point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th place. Points towards the classification could also be accrued at intermediate sprint points during each stage. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a red jersey. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs. The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided in the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1995 were eligible to be ranked in the classification.

Additional jerseys were also awarded for the best rider in the overall classification from the Provence region (grey jersey), the most combative rider (black jersey) and the rider placed highest cumulatively across the general, points and mountains classification (multi-coloured jersey).

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;"
width="1%"\| Stage !width="15%"\| Winner !width="12%"\| General classification 25px !width="12%"\| Points classification 25px !width="12%"\| Mountains classification 25px !width="12%"\| Young rider classification 25px !width="12%"\| Regional rider classification 25px !width="12%"\| Combination classification 25px !width="12%"\| Combativity classification 25px !width="12%"\| Teams classification 25px
P \| Alexandre Geniez \|style="background:skyblue;" rowspan=4\| Alexandre Geniez \|style="background:lightgreen;"\| Alexandre Geniez \|style="background:#F799A0;" \| none \|style="background:offwhite;" rowspan=2\| Bruno Armirail \|style="background:#D3D3D3;" rowspan=2\| Christophe Laporte \|style="background:#FFFF99;"\| Alexandre Geniez \|style="background:#D3D3D3;"\| Tony Gallopin \|style="background:navajowhite;" rowspan=4\| {{UCI team code\|ALM\|2018}}
1 \| Christophe Laporte \|style="background:lightgreen;"\| Christophe Laporte \|style="background:#F799A0;" \| Marco Bernardinetti \|style="background:#FFFF99;" \| Diego Pablo Sevilla \|style="background:#D3D3D3;" \| Jerome Mainard
2 \| Rémy Di Gregorio \|style="background:lightgreen;"\| Lilian Calmejane \|style="background:#F799A0;"\| Ángel Madrazo \|style="background:offwhite;" rowspan=2\| Mathias Le Turnier \|style="background:#D3D3D3;" rowspan=2\| Maxime Bouet \|style="background:#FFFF99;" rowspan=2\| Lilian Calmejane \|style="background:#D3D3D3;"\| Ludovic Robeet
3 \| Christophe Laporte \|style="background:lightgreen;"\| Christophe Laporte \|style="background:#F799A0;"\| Diego Pablo Sevilla \|style="background:#D3D3D3;"\| Kevin Ledanois
colspan=2\| Final !style="background:dodgerblue;"\| Alexandre Geniez !style="background:limegreen;"\| Christophe Laporte !style="background-color:red;"\| Diego Pablo Sevilla !style="background:#FFFFEE;"\| Mathias Le Turnier !style="background:grey;"\| Maxime Bouet !style="background:yellow;"\| Lilian Calmejane !style="background:grey;"\| - !style="background:Orange"\| {{UCI team code\|ALM\|2018}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;"

width="1%"| Stage

!width="15%"| Winner

!width="12%"| General classification
25px

!width="12%"| Points classification
25px

!width="12%"| Mountains classification
25px

!width="12%"| Young rider classification
25px

!width="12%"| Regional rider classification
25px

!width="12%"| Combination classification
25px

!width="12%"| Combativity classification
25px

!width="12%"| Teams classification
25px

| Alexandre Geniez