This 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 as well, 48 seconds behind the stage winner.

DS Michael Skelde says:

“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 a little bit downhill. So when the bunch started the engine, it was too late. This afternoon, we’re taking on the time trial. We don’t have any specialists among us but we’ll be aiming to limit the losses in terms of the GC.”

This afternoon’s time trial covers 7 kilometers.