Fantastic Feillu wins again

Romain Feillu outsprinted Davide Appollonio to claim a hat-trick of successive stage victories at the Tour of the Mediterranean.

Three triumphs from three for French star

Romain Feillu claimed a hat-trick of successive stage wins at the Tour of the Mediterranean by outsprinting Team Sky's Davide Appollonio on a tough uphill finish in Biot. The 155km passage from La Londe Les Maures to Biot proved another exciting one with three riders breaking away early in the day and holding a two-minute advantage as they passed under the 20km to go banner. It was around that time that Feillu's Vacansoleil team-mates stepped up the chase, and with the help of Team Sky, managed to haul back the trio just as the peloton swept into the destination town. A steep mile-long climb was to follow there which thinned out the bunch considerably, but Feillu remained right to the fore as the survivors approached the finishing straight and despite Appollonio's best efforts it was the Frenchman who emerged triumphant with a powerful late kick at the line. The result saw Feillu's lead at the top of the general classification grow to 18 seconds, with Appollonio leaping four places to second overall and also claiming the young rider's jersey in the process. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) sits a further three seconds adrift in third. The race culminates at the top of Mont Faron on Sunday and the climbing specialists will be doing all they can to deny Feillu his first overall victory of the season.