Mohori attacks and he’s ready to assault the GC leadership

Exploiting a mix of determination and skill, which are distinctive characteristics of his cycling skills, Matej Mohoric (photo Bettini) is now in a position from which he could aim to hit the big target of the general classification of the Tour de la Provence.

The Slovenian cyclist from UAE Team Emirates realized an incisive performance in the final part of the 2nd stage of the French race, 169,6 km from Miramas to La Ciotat, joining togethwer with the team mate Valerio Conti an attack of other 3 riders at 20 km to the arrival.
Mohoric crossed the finish line in 4th position and he’s now 3rd in the general classification, with the same time of the new leader Dennis (today 2nd in the stage), of Geniez (2nd in the GC and stage winner) and of Edet (4th): if no gaps between the riders will be recorded in the 3rd and final stage, the sum of the results in the three stages will determinate the winner in the general classification.

UAE Team Emirates had chosen the final kilometers of the stage as the key point where to try to anticipate the bunch sprint and the duo Mohoric-Conti carried out this plan following an attack by Geniez, Dennis and Edet on the last climb of the stage.
Unfortunately, Conti could not go on with the front group because of a problem at the gear of his bike, which had been damaged some kilometers before in a collision with another rider, manifested itself.

Mohoric told about the final kilometers: “We were in a perfect situation, being in two riders from the same team in the breakaway with 20″ on the chasing peloton.
Suddenly, Valerio could not be anymore with me and I tried to analyze quickly the situation, realising that I was not the faster athlete in the front group.
That’s why I tried to anticipate the sprint with a solo attack: I was pedaling pretty well, however the chasing trio set an incisive cooperation and they bridged the gap.
The final stage will be decisive for the general classification, I’ll try to achieve the best result relying on the support of my team“.

Once again the young gun Oliviero Troia obtained a place in the top ten: after the 8th place in the opening stage, he was 9th in the second stage.

In the final day of the Tour de Provence, the race will start from Aix en Provence and it will end in Marseille, for a distance of 171,4 km and a final part of the course which could be open to various solutions.

STAGE RESULTS
1- Geniez 3h57’12”
2- Dennis s.t.
3- Edet s.t.
4- Mohoric s.t.
5- Lecrocq 4″
9- Troia s.t., 27- Petilli s.t., 43- Polanc s.t., 67- Laengen s.t., 72- Niemiec s.t., 73- Bono s.t., 85- Conti 20″

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1- Dennis 8h49’55”
2- Geniez s.t.
3- Mohoric s.t.
4- Edet s.t.
5- Lecrocq 4″