Having failed to achieve any success in the Dubai Tour, Thor Hushovd (BMC) again missed out when the first stage of Tour Mediteraneen was decided in a bunch sprint. However, the Norwegian felt great progress compared to his showing in the Middle East and is happy with his condition.

BMC Racing Team had a highly successful Dubai Tour that gave them an overall 1-2 with Taylor Phinney and Stephen Cummings. However, there wasn't much success for the team's sprinter Thor Hushovd who failed to make an impact in the sprints.

After a very hard 18 months, Hushovd showed that he may still find back his best legs when he won several races at the end of last season. He is hopeful that a big classics win is still not beyond him and is now building his condition for the cobbled races.

Today he had another chance to show some progress when the first stage of the Tour Mediteraneen ended in a bunch sprint but the Norwegian could only manage 15th. Despite the miss, he is happy with his feelings on the bike.

"The whole team rode really well today," he said. "We always stayed together in the front in the important parts in the crosswind. The boys were working well in the final. There was one guy (Christophe Premont) who had quite a big gap there, but we brought him back. We also tried in the crosswind with eight kilometers to go to split the bunch a little bit, but we missed some power to go all the way. Taylor (Phinney) did a good lead-out for me. I think we just ended up too early in the front. He had to pull for one-and-a-half kilometers, I think. I still miss the speed, but I'm there. I've done a big step since Dubai, so I am happy."

Sports director Yvon Ledanois was equally pleased as the team had 7 of 8 riders in the front group when the peloton split in the crosswinds.

"The first objective for this stage was the time for the GC," he said. "A bonus would have been a victory for the stage with Taylor Phinney or Thor Hushovd. We think we have a shot with the GC with Steve Cummings. Today, we were all together in the front of the race. That was more important for tomorrow. We have confidence in them for tomorrow."

Friday's stage is an undulating, 170.6-km stage from Cadolive  to Rousset with three categorized climbs.