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Étoile de Bessèges 2021 (February 3-7)

With not much else going on in the way of racing, this deserves its own thread this year.

Startlist

Overall map
csm_Carte_Etoile_de_Bess%C3%A8ges_2021_da37559480.jpg


Stage 1 (Bellegarde - Bellegarde, 144 km)
ETAPE-1-1536x444.jpeg


Final climb:
EtSChkhWYAUJiCf


Stage 2 (Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoires - La Calmette, 154 km)
ETAPE-2-1536x584.jpeg


Stage 3 (Bessèges - Bessèges, 155 km)
ETAPE-3-1536x558.jpeg


Climbs:
col-de-l-ance-peyremale.png


Portes4W.gif


TrelisS.gif


BroussesN.gif


(I don't have a profile for Côte de Tharaux or the uncategorised climb after it)

col-du-grand-chataignier-saint-paul-le-jeune.png


Stage 4 (Rousson - Saint-Siffret, 152 km)
ETAPE-4-1536x571.jpeg


Stage 5 (ITT Alès - Alès, 10.7 km)
ETAPE-5-1536x515.jpeg


Final climb:
Etm2bM5WYAApCk-
 
Last edited:
Don't really understand why so many top climbers are riding this one and not Provence.
Because every other race tailormade for climbers in february is postponed or cancelled. The french races and uae tour will probably be some of the very few that will be organised this month. And even climbers need a bit of competition. The teams stacked with climbers can't send them all to provence.
 
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If I'm not mistaken last year they did Cote de la Tour twice, once with around 10 km to go and then at the finish, which led to some riders being almost lapped (as seen in the video).

This year there are almost 40 km between the two passages over the Cote, so the final should be easier to control. Punchers are favored but strong sprinters definitely have a chance if in good shape.
 
If I'm not mistaken last year they did Cote de la Tour twice, once with around 10 km to go and then at the finish, which led to some riders being almost lapped (as seen in the video).

back then the race exploded in the wind early on. There were something around ~25 guys (including Brunel, Cosnefroy and so on) a minute ahead or so already when they first hit the climb.
 

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