On Saturday morning CULT Energy Pro Cycling took on the 92 kilometer short first stage of the French stage race Criterium International on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Two escapees were dangling in front of the lurking peloton and the powerful tandem managed to hold the big beast of the bunch all the way to the finish line.

The flat stage, besides the short climb, Cote de Conga halfway through the course, was an obvious target for the sprinters but Ben King (Cannondale) and Saint Martin (Team Marseiile) really had a good run for the finish line and eventually made it. In the sprint, King was the faster of the two. CULT Energy Pro Cycling's Michael Carbel finished 11th while the team's hope for the GC Linus Gerdemann finished in the peloton, 48 seconds behind the stage winner.

The seven kilometer short time trial Saturday afternoon was won by Fabio Felline one second ahead of teammate Bob Jungels (Trek Factory Racing). CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s hope for the GC Linus Gerdemann finished with a time loss of 32 seconds but ahead of some of the main contenders for tomorrow’s queen stage covering 189.5 kilometers with a mountain top finish.

Ben King (Cannondale) still leads overall before tomorrow’s final stage. Linus Gerdemann is 38th overall - 59 seconds away from King.

"It was a typical first stage where everybody wanted to get away and nobody wanted to take charge of the peloton and the escapees had perfect conditions on the run-in with tailwind and slight downhill. So when the bunch started the engine, it was too late. This afternoon, Linus lost a little more ground than expected on the TT but he's in good condition and very motivated. If everything goes well, I still reckon he can finish among the best on tomorrow's mountain stage. We know we're up against some of the best climbers in the world but we remain optimistic,” DS Michael Skelde states.