Jonathan Tiernon-Locke wins Tour Méditerranéen

[Nuncio]

A good win by Jon Tiernan-Locke in the Tour Méditerranéen last week.  He won the first stage on the flat by slipping away from the sprinters with 2.5km to go, and then the final stage and the overall, winning a truncated 4th stage by blasting the opposition from the base of the final climb.  So a stunning win for the Endura team over some more illustrious Protour teams; and a good individual win for JTL over some ‘names’ like Daniel Navarro, Garzelli, Nocentini, Nicki Sorensen, Pierre Rolland, and David Moncoutie.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2012/stage-4/results

[David Martin]

Jon T-L is a stunning climber. Probably the best pure climber to come out of UK since Millar (or possibly ever). He is a delight to watch as soon as the road goes up hill.

I love the way he describes his first stage win - the guy in front swung over so he just carried on, didn't attack, until there was nobody left on his wheel. A class act who really should be in a protour team next year.

[Nuncio]

And now he's won the Tour du Haut Var.

[andrew_s]

France 3 coverage available here
The last 25 mins or so of stage 2 is well worth while if you don't want to watch the lot

[David Martin]

Thanks for the link. Watching J T-L when the road goes up is watching one of the best climbers britain has ever produced. Fantastic style on a bike - makes it look so easy and fluid, then you realise that the best in the world are weeping in his wake.

[Salvatore]

That last km was brutal.  I liked the  'O la la!' from the commentator at 1:52:14 when J T-L  appears from nowhere and zips past the break 'comme une bombe'.

[David Martin]

I can't imagine him being with Endura next year - pro-tour for sure.

[GrahamG]

I just hope he gets the Endura team an increased chance of picking up slots on bigger races.

[Rich753]

How old is he?  Hopefully still young enough to have a pro career (if he wants one)?

[bobb]

I think he's 27. There's a bit about him in one of the cycle mags at the mo. He had some health problems and ended up jacking it in for a few years IIRC. He came back to cycling and disco!

[Rich753]

Thanks.  Intrigued by "disco" tho'  -

[TheLurker]

...He had some health problems and ended up jacking it in for a few years IIRC.

Epstein-Barr virus I believe. Lost 3 or more years because of it.

[Nuncio]

Some more background here. in cyclingnews.