Étoile de Bessèges 2022 (February 2-6)

[DaLong]

Impressive from Halland Johannessen to be up there between the sprinters and puncheurs. Finish was a little easier than I expected but still surprising that Coquard and Pedersen went first and second, both clearly on very good form.

By the looks of Coquard after that effort, it sure didn't seem easy. I would've died.

 

[tobydawq]

Burgaudeau most really idolise Alaphilippe with that facial hair he has got going on.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol is looking good for the gc. He's a good climber and with the TT still to come after the MTF he has a chance. He has a 20sec lead over guys like Latour, Carapaz and Johannessen with the TT also being in his favour.

 

[Anderis]

Bettiol hasn't finished outside top10 this season, yet.

 

[RedheadDane]

Bettiol hasn't finished outside top10 this season, yet.

Pedersen hasn't finished off the podium.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol hasn't finished outside top10 this season, yet.

Let's hope that he isn't going for "most top 10s without a win"...

 

[tobydawq]

Let's hope that he isn't going for "most top 10s without a win"...

Nobody is.

 

[Anderis]

Let's hope that he isn't going for "most top 10s without a win"...

To be honest, considering where he was last year with his health issues, it wouldn't be a tragedy if he is that good to be in top10 so many times this year.

 

[will-10]

Bettiol has three career wins: a Monument, a Grand Tour stage win.... and the ITT here at Besseges. He might well be off the top 10s thread this week.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol has three career wins: a Monument, a Grand Tour stage win.... and the ITT here at Besseges. He might well be off the top 10s thread this week.

Would be rather impressive to pull that one off with Ganna also being here, even with that climb at the end.

 

[Bonimenier]

Would be rather impressive to pull that one off with Ganna also being here, even with that climb at the end.

He meant that Bettiol won the Bessèges ITT in the past couple of years ago.

 

[will-10]

Would be rather impressive to pull that one off with Ganna also being here, even with that climb at the end.

Agreed, possible but I think it's more likely that Bettiol wins GC than stage 5

 

[Mayomaniac]

Agreed, possible but I think it's more likely that Bettiol wins GC than stage 5

Yeah, you're probably right about that one.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Thomas channeling his inner Voeckler there. Should probably have ridden all the way to the line though.

 

[SafeBet]

Great racing today.
Benjamin Thomas wins with a late attack from a group with Bettiol and again a super impressive Johannessen.

 

[Samamba]

Can Thomas climb a bit?

Looks like all three bottom teams on the UCI ranking started their season great.

 

[Alexandre B.]

 

[SafeBet]

Not sure where Mads P finished but he was one minute behind the three leaders with a few kms to go so Thomas might get the jersey too.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Video of the decisive move.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1489624236020879362

 

[tobydawq]

What a fabulous ride by Thomas there! Bossing the descent and then a violent attack on the flat where Bettiol simply could not match his acceleration.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Bessèges always delivers. The bottom WT teams have started well this season, the battle against relegation will be extremely fierce and may draw in some unexpected names at this rate.

 

[Roku]

Bettiol vs Johannsen vs Latour for the overall?

Thomas is an ITT specialist but I'm not sure he will be able to survive Mont Bouquet.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

What about Ineos today? Seems they did not have any real motivation to ride a bike race today?…

Their best six men (out of seven) finished at the back of the second-to-last group, nearly 10mins down. Little bit of a surprise…

Hope they show us nice performances coming weekend, though…

 

[SafeBet]

What about Ineos today? Seems they did not have any real motivation to ride a bike race today?…

Their best six men (out of seven) finished at the back of the second-to-last group, nearly 10mins down. Little bit of a surprise…

Hope they show us nice performances coming weekend, though…

Sheffield was in the early break and the last rider to survive. A great performance for such a young rider.

Carapaz was just behind Bettiol in the final descent and crashed. Perhaps a few of his teammates waited for him and escorted him to the finish line.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Sheffield was in the early break and the last rider to survive. A great performance for such a young rider.

Carapaz was just behind Bettiol in the final descent and crashed. Perhaps a few of his teammates waited for him and escorted him to the finish line.

Ok, thanks