Nieve and co. enjoy quiet Med opener

Euskaltel's brigade in the south of France did like their team-mates over at Mallorca have been doing the last few days, staying out of the limelight on today's first stage of the Tour Méditerranéen.

The 141km trek from Limoux to Gruissan was one for the sprinters, and André Greipel duly went on to claim yet another win of what's been a barnstorming start to the season. None of the Euskaltel riders on show tried to mingle with the speedsters, preferring to cruise home mid-pack.

Mikel Nieve, making his first appearance of 2013, came in safe and sound in 107th place. We'll get a good indicator of his early-season form tomorrow, with the riders set to tackle a 24km ITT ending with an ascent of the Mont Saint-Clair.

Results (full results here):

• (1, André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol), 3:25:23)
• 37, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 38, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 46, Rubén Pérez, s.t.
• 50, Juan José Lobato, s.t.
• 62, Romain Sicard, s.t.
• 107, Mikel Nieve, s.t.
• 110, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
• 135, Garikoitz Bravo, s.t.

Photo: Euskaltel Euskadi