Tour de l’Eurométropole, formerly known as the Circuit Franco-Belge, ended with the second stage win of the German sprinter John Degenkolb. 

The Argos-Shimano rider scored his second stage win of the week after he came out on top of the bunch sprint to end the 2013 Tour de l’Eurométropole. For IAM Cycling, bad luck was too well known again. After reaching top form and sitting on the 10th place overall coming into the stage, Heinrich Haussler could barely climb the stairs to get on the bus by the end of the day. 

Severe back pain on his left side was the result after he crashed with less than 10 kilometers to go. Sébastien Hinault didn’t find an opening to escape despite making an attempt near the final. At the end, Marco Bandiera managed to mitigate any bitterness the Swiss team might feel by finishing strongly in the top-15 for the stage. 

Directeur sportif Eddy Seigneur most regretted the accident Heinrich Haussler suffered and noted how tough this tour had been for the team. 

“We already suffered multiple misfortunes from this stage race with Pelucchi injured and Saramotins sick, and now we are dealing with the after effects of Haussler’s crash.  We still managed to show our jersey thanks to Hinault who pocketed a bonus of 1000 Euros and bonus seconds, too. Fortunately Kristof Goddaert succeeded in staying in the top-10 overall.  I still hope that our luck will turn and we can show our good qualities this week at the Paris-Bourges and Paris-Tours.”