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An Post-Chainreaction team riders prepare for the start of the first stage race of the road season in Europe: the Etoile de Besseges.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

More photos below

Argos Shimano team car and bus
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Unitedhealthcare riders prepare for the start of stage 1 in front of the team bus.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Unitedhealthcare team car and bus
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Rony Martias (Sojasun) shakes hands with Daniel Mangeas, the voice of French cycling, after signing in before the stage start.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Rony Martias (Sojasun)
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Jonathan Hivert and Jimmy Engoulvent (Sojasun)
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM)
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Stefano Sirotti photographs the Accent Jobs-Wanty team, presented to the public before the start of Stage 1
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) arrives to sign in before the race start.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Sebastien Chavanel and Franck Bouyer, left, of Europcar
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Europcar riders climb the stage for sign-in and to be presented to the public in Bellegarde.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

The peloton rides along the rue d'Arles in Bellegarde.  They are in the neutral zone before the official race start.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Jerome Cousin and Bryan Coquard try to catch the peloton early in the race.  Coquard would finish 6th in the sprint finish in Beaucaire.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

The remains of the 12th century tower (or "tour" in French) after which the Cote de la Tour climb is named.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

The breakaway of the day on the Cote de la Tour: Jason Bakke (La Pomme Marseille), Arthur Vanoverberghe (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Niels Wytinck (An Post-Chainreaction), Koen Barbe (Crelan-Euphony) and Pierre Rolland (Europcar).
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

The breakaway
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

L'Equipe moto carrying a photographer to the top of the Cote de la Tour
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

The peloton chases the breakaway on the climb
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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

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photo Copyright © 2013 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

Michael Van Staeyen (Topsport Valaanderen-Baloise) wins Stage 1 in Beaucaire.
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photo Copyright © 2013 Fotoreporter Sirotti/www.cyclingfans.com

Michael Van Staeyen waves from the victory podium
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photo Copyright © 2013 Fotoreporter Sirotti/www.cyclingfans.com