View source for La Méditerranéenne

{{Short description|Road cycling stage race}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = Tour Méditerranéen<br/>La Méditerranéenne
| current_event = 
| image         =Tour Méditerranéen-logo 2023.png
| date          = February
| region        = Spain<br/>France<br/>Italy
| english       = Mediterranean Tour
| localnames    = Tour Méditerranéen {{in lang|fr}}
| nickname      = 
| discipline    = Road
| competition   = [[UCI Europe Tour]]
| type          = [[Stage race (cycling)|Stage race]]
| organiser     = Association Olympique Mediterranée
| director      = André Martres
| website       = 
| first         = {{start date|1974}}
| number        = 42
| last          = 2016
| firstwinner   = {{flagathlete|[[Charles Rouxel]]|FRA}}
| mostwins      = {{flagathlete|[[Gerrie Knetemann]]|NED}} (3 wins)
| mostrecent    = {{flagathlete|[[Andriy Hrivko]]|UKR}}
}}
'''La Méditerranéenne''', previously known as '''Le Tour Méditerranéen''', was a professional [[road bicycle racing]] event held in Spain, France and Italy, close to the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Tour Méditerranéen |url=https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=113 |website=FirstCycling.com |language=en}}</ref> Run over four days, it holds a [[UCI race classifications|2.1 rating]] on the [[UCI Europe Tour]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=165954|title=La Méditerranéenne – General Classification}}</ref>

The event is part of a series of stage races being held in the south of France in February, alongside the [[Étoile de Bessèges]], the [[Tour du Haut Var]] and the [[Tour La Provence]].<ref name= "new French race" >{{cite web|title=News shorts: New French stage race planned for February|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/news-shorts-new-french-stage-race-planned-for-february/|website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref> These early-season races are competed mainly by French teams and are considered preparations for [[Paris–Nice]], the first European [[UCI World Tour|World Tour]] event in March.<ref name= "new French race" />

==History==
The ''Tour Méditerranéen'' ''("Tour of the Mediterranean Sea")'' was created by former [[Tour de France]] winner [[Lucien Aimar]] in 1974. The event was named ''Trophée Méditerranéen'' for its first four editions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tour méditerranéen (Fra) - Cat.2.1 |url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/etapes/eta_tour_mediterraneen.php |accessdate=31 December 2021 |work=Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu |language=fr}}</ref> Run in February, the five-day [[stage race]] was won by several eminent riders, including [[Eddy Merckx]], [[Gianni Bugno]], [[Tony Rominger]], [[Laurent Jalabert]] and  [[Paolo Bettini]].<ref name= "New race" /> [[Gerrie Knetemann]] holds the record with three victories.<ref>{{cite web|title=Race History|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2012/race-history/|website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref>

In 2012 licensing problems between the organizers and the [[French Cycling Federation]] emerged, nearly spelling the cancellation of the event before a deal was ultimately reached.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tour Méditéranéen in peril|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-mediteraneen-in-peril}}</ref> Financial difficulties led to the discontinuation of the race in 2015 after organizers failed to pay debts from the previous edition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tour Méditerranéen will not take place in 2015|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-mditerranen-will-not-take-place-in-2015|website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref>

In 2016 the race was revived as ''La Méditerranéenne'' and scaled back to four days.<ref name= "New race" /> The rejuvenated edition was won by Ukrainian [[Andriy Hrivko]].<ref>{{cite web|title=La Méditerranéenne 2016|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-mditerranenne-2016/|website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref>
[[File:La Méditerranéenne 2016 - course 22.JPG|thumb|260px|13 february 2016: third stage of La Méditerranéenne]]
==Route==
From 1974 until 2014 the race was held in the southern French region of [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur]], but also occasionally featured stages in [[Liguria]], Italy. Traditionally, a summit finish on the [[Mont Faron]] in [[Toulon]] was staged every year. As from 2016, the re-invented ''La Méditerranéenne'' is contested over four days. The 2016 edition spanned three countries, starting with a [[team time trial]] in [[Banyoles]], Spain, before heading into France for two stages close to the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean coast]]. The final stage started and finished in [[Bordighera]], on the [[Italian riviera]].<ref name= "New race" >{{cite web|title=New four-day race La Méditerranéenne reveals stage starts and finishes. Replacement for Tour Méditerranéen race will run from February 11–14|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/new-four-day-race-la-mditerranenne-reveals-stage-starts-and-finishes/|website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref>

==Winners==
===Tour Méditerranéen===
[[File:Presentatie Nederlandse wielerploegen Raleigh en Frisol, deelnemers aan Tour de , Bestanddeelnr 929-2454.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gerrie Knetemann]] ''(pictured in 1977)'' won the event three times.]]
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1974|name={{sortname|Charles|Rouxel}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[Peugeot–BP–Michelin]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1975|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère||Bruyere, Joseph}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Molteni (cycling team)|Molteni]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1976|name={{sortname|Roy|Schuiten}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=[[Lejeune–BP]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1977|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Fiat France]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1978|name={{sortname|Gerrie|Knetemann}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=[[TI–Raleigh]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1979|name={{sortname|Michel|Laurent}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[Peugeot–Esso–Michelin]] }}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1980|name={{sortname|Gerrie|Knetemann}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=[[TI–Raleigh]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1981|name={{sortname|Stefan|Mutter}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team=[[Cilo–Aufina]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1982|name={{sortname|Michel|Laurent}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[Peugeot–Shell–Michelin]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1983|name={{sortname|Gerrie|Knetemann}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=[[TI–Raleigh]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1984|name={{sortname|Jean-Claude|Bagot}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[Skil–Reydel]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1985|name={{sortname|Phil|Anderson|Phil Anderson (cyclist)}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team=[[Panasonic cycling team|Panasonic]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1986|name={{sortname|Jean-François|Bernard||Bernard, Jean François}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[La Vie Claire]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{sortname|Gerrit|Solleveld}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|RAB|1987}} }}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{sortname|Jan|Nevens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Sigma-Fina]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{sortname|Tony|Rominger}}|nat=SUI|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|Chateau d'Ax|1989}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{sortname|Gérard|Rué||Rue, Gerard}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[Castorama (cycling team)|Castorama]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{sortname|Phil|Anderson|Phil Anderson (cyclist)}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team=[[Motorola (cycling team)|Motorola]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{sortname|Rolf|Gölz||Golz, Rolf}}|nat=GER|natvar=|team=[[Ariostea (cycling team)|Ariostea]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{sortname|Charly|Mottet}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|NOV|1993}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{sortname|Davide|Cassani}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team=[[GB–MG Maglificio]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name={{sortname|Gianni|Bugno}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team=[[MG Maglificio–Technogym]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{sortname|Franck|Vandenbroucke|Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Mapei–GB]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1997|name={{sortname|Emmanuel|Magnien}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=[[Festina (cycling team)|Festina–Lotus]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{sortname|Rodolfo|Massi}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ALM|1998}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{sortname|Davide|Rebellin}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team=[[Team Polti|Polti]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2000|name={{sortname|Laurent|Jalabert}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ONC|2000}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{sortname|Davide|Rebellin}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BRE|2001}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{sortname|Michele|Bartoli}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FAS|2002}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{sortname|Paolo|Bettini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2003}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2004|name={{sortname|Jörg|Jaksche||Jaksche, Jorg}}|nat=GER|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2004}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2005|name={{sortname|Jens|Voigt}}|nat=GER|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2005}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2006|name={{sortname|Cyril|Dessel}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ALM|2006}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Iván|Gutiérrez|Iván Gutiérrez (cyclist)|Gutierrez, Ivan}}|nat=ESP|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2007}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Alexandre|Botcharov}}|nat=RUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|C.A|2008}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Luis León|Sánchez||Sanchez, Luis Leon}}|nat=ESP|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2009}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Rinaldo|Nocentini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|David|Moncoutié}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|COF|2011}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Jonathan|Tiernan-Locke}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|EDR|2012}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Thomas|Löfkvist}}|nat=SWE|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|IAM|2013}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Steve|Cummings}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BMC|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2015}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

===La Méditerranéenne===
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Andriy|Hrivko}}|nat=UKR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|AST|2016}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2017<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/la-mediterraneenne-cancelled-for-2017/|title=La Mediterraneenne cancelled for 2017 - Cyclingnews.com}}</ref>}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.lamediterraneenne.eu/}} {{in lang|fr}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Méditerranéenne, La}}
[[Category:UCI Europe Tour races]]
[[Category:Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1974]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in France]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in France]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:Defunct cycling races in France]]