Having finished in the top 10 in his first 6 races of the season without taking that elusive win, John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) finally opened his account in today's opening stage of the Tour Mediteraneen. However, it had nearly come to nothing for the fast German as a late mechanical almost ruined his race.

John Degenkolb has finally broken the deadlock and taken his first win of the 2014 season on stage 1 of the Tour Méditerranéen. After going close on several occasions at the Étoile de Bessèges last week, Degenkolb was really motivated to get his first victory of the year and he made up for those disappointments here today.

The day's breakaway went early on, formed of five riders, and Team Giant-Shimano immediately took things into their own hands showing confidence in Degenkolb for the sprint, and also to safely negotiate the crosswinds that were buffeting the peloton. Even when the peloton splintered into several groups in the latter stages, the team remained focused and well represented at the front, then on the final lap everything came back together again for a bunch sprint.

The team rallied around Degenkolb and, despite a late problem in the final 10km followed by a rapid chase back to the front Degenkolb was able to come through when it mattered, timing his sprint to perfection to take the victory and with it the leader's jersey.

"It was really nice out there today, sunny and warm which makes a nice change to the recent weather," said a relieved Degenkolb. "It was a long race and the guys rode great, especially Tom Peterson and Thierry Hupond who were on the front for what felt like the whole day.

"They never really got much help from the other teams but were super strong. The win wouldn't have been possible without their work.

However, all the hard work had nearly been for nothing.

"I had a mechanical with 10km to go. My chain was not running well and I had to stop to fix the problem.  I knew I had to fight to get back on as the guys had fought for me all day. It was not perfect for the sprint but the important thing is that i returned to contest the stage win. It paid off at the end and it's great to get the win.

"It was increasingly nervous in the finale," he added to Directvelo. "We have repeatedly tried to create echelons, a move that would have created a selection. In the end, it was BMC who blew the peloton apart but everything came back together.

"This is a great day for me. Since the beginning of the season, I am feeling better. I have been really good in France and have been racing here for two weeks (in the GP La Marseillaise and Etoile de Bessèges, ed). I enjoy the weather. I am happy with this victory because it proves that I'm getting better day by day which is important as we get closer to the classics.

Degenkolb is now the first leader of the race but with the final stage ending on Mont Faron he doesn't harbour any overall ambitions.

"The most important for the team is to protect the guys who are focused on the overall standings," he said. "In particular I think of Tobias Ludvigsson (overall winner in Besseges, ed.) but not only him. Warren Barguil can also target the GC. This is his first big race of the year and he is in good shape. The time trial and the final stage will be crucial for the GC. 

"I have no ambitions for the overall. I cannot imagine defending the jersey until the end. The final stages are too difficult for me. Today the guys gave eveything for me.  So it will probably be for me to return the favor in the days to come. "

Team coach, Marc Reef praised the teamwork that prepared Degenkolb's win.

"It's great to kick off the race like this, and to continue the success that the team had last week. The guys were really strong today and I was really impressed by Tom Peterson and Thierry Hupond who did a great job to ride for over 140km on the front to keep the break in check and then bring the gap down before the other guys joined in to bring everything back together.

"They put John in a good position in the final kilometre and he did a great sprint to finish off all the hard work put in throughout the day."

The Tour Mediteraneen ends on Sunday.