David López and Mauricio Soler, the two climbing specialists featured by Movistar Team in the 38th Tour Méditerranéen, made it to the end within the best in the fifth, decisive stage of the French stagerace, concluding atop the Mont Faron near Toulon.

López was 6th and Soler finished in 16th after the difficult 4-kilometer climb, whose foot saw the peloton coming together after the day’s 17-rider break -featuring good performer Madrazo and Iriarte as dual representation from Movistar Team- was caught halfway following their attack right from the start of the race. In the final ascent, the two climbers from the Spanish squad made part of the selected group breaking up in the steep slopes, Péraud (ALM) making a first selection and going apart before Moncoutié (COF) overtook him in the final kilometer to take the day’s victory and the overall classification, with David López in 7th place while Mauricio Soler claimed his same spot of the day in 16th.

The most important thing for Movistar Team sports director Yvon Ledanois was the squad’s attitude: “I’m really satisfied because the guys were always present into the race. Soler and David have been phenomenal at the end, and that’s a good sign for Paris-Nice. we came here with many debutants and all of them went far beyond the expectations.” Movistar Team will be returning next weekend on French roads to compete in the Tour du Haut Var, a two-day, 2.1 stagerace from Saturday to Sunday.