SOUTH Devon cycle racer Jonathan Tiernan-Locke goes into tomorrow's final stage of the weather-hit Tour Mediterranean well-placed for a good finish.

Locke won the opening day of the tour in the south of France on Thursday, wearing the yellow jersey into yesterday's second stage.

He lost the jersey but stayed in close touch with the leaders, and crossed the line in today's shortened stage from La Seyne sur Mer to La Londe Les Maures in the same bunch as his team-mates and the race leaders, recording the same time.

After the stage he Tweeted: "@enduraracing boys kept me out of trouble on today's dodgy roads...especially @renemandri who single handedly matched the FDJ train!"

Locke, who lives in the South Hams and rides for the Mid Devon club, is in his first event since signing for the British Endura Racing pro team.

Sunday's final stage starts in La Ciotat and covers 130 kilometres before a four-kilometre climb to the finish on Mount Faron.

Dutch rider Michel Kreder, who won today's stage in ice and snow, leads Yauheni Hutarovich and Jon Locke by 10 seconds.

Locke is a noted climber, and led the Tour of Britain field over the slopes of Dartmoor last year.