Yannick Martinez proved to the Europcar management that they made a good decision to sign the young sprinter for the 2014 season when he finished 2nd in today's stage of the Tour Mediteraneen. The Frenchman is now hopeful that he will get his revenge against double stage winner John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) tomorrow.

In 2013, Yannick Martinez upset the best sprinters on several occasions. While riding for the small La Pomme Marseille team, the Frenchman won a stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, finished 3rd in the RideLondon Classic and had several top 10 performances.

Those results earned him a WorldTour contract with Europcar and the team's decision to sign the 25-year-old sprinter has been justified right from the beginning. Today he delivered on his promises when he sprinted to 2nd behind John Degenkolb in the second stage of the Tour Mediteraneen.

Martinez is more than just a sprinter as he also climbs rather well. He put those skills to use today to survive the Col du Petit Galibier just 25km from the finish. That gave him a chance to sprint against Degenkolb but he admits that the win was never within reach.

"Yesterday, I had a good feeling," he said. "Today I stayed with the best on the Petit Galibier and I managed to save myself for the sprint. There was a small right-hand turn 250m from the finish that you had to take first. I anticipated the sprint but Degenkolb came from behind. Today he was superior. "

Martinez will get a chance to break Degenkolb's reign in tomorrow morning's short stage that precedes the afternoon time trial. Despite Degenkolb's superiority, he has not given up hope.

"In the end, everything is possible," he said confidently.