Étoile de Bessèges 2023 (February 1-5)

[Devil's Elbow]

The stage races come thick and fast this week and all of them are televised too, although this one has major georestrictions on GCN. Either way, this is always a good race.

Startlist

Stage 1: Bellegarde - Bellegarde, 160.7k
The same first stage as last year. We had echelons that day and it looks decently windy…

Côte de la Tour (2x):

Finish, featuring the same 90-degree left-hander at 80 metres from the line as last year:

Stage 2: Bagard - Aubais, 164.7k
The flattest stage, although the expected sprint is still somewhat uphill.

Côte de Saint-Côme-et-Maruéjols:

Côte de Clarensac:

Stage 3: Bessèges - Bessèges, 169.3k
The classic one. The final circuit is done the other way round compared to last year, what comes before that looks slightly easier than thar

Climbs in order of first appearance:

Col de Trélis (2x):

Col des Brousses (3x):

Col du Grand Châtaignier:

Côte de Méjannes-le-Clap:

Stage 4: Saint-Christol-lès-Alès - Le Mont Bouquet, 145.7k
The queen stage.

Côte de Saint-Siffret:

Côte des Concluses:

Le Mont Bouquet (finish):

Stage 5: Alès - Alès, 10.7k
The classic final TT. Just like the first stage, it looks identical to last year’s version.

Site de l’Ermitage:

 

[RedheadDane]

So... where would I need to "go" - VPN-vise - in order to watch this?

 

[search]

France would be an option to watch it on l'Équipe, and in most countries (apart from UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Scandinavia?) it also seems to be on GCN

 

[DNP-Old]

Got my eyes on Michael Leonard and Josh Tarling here. The former is part of a very talented group of Canadians, he can be a big player in stage races in the future. Joshie T has the engine to go so many ways, but he’ll always be a time trialist at heart. I think he could already push for top 20 here in Alès.

 

[Samamba]

Insane wind today. Open roads. Should be absolute carnage, although we might need to wait till the last 30k to see a decisive split as there is a lot of parts with headwind in between the crosswind parts.

 

[DNP-Old]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1620714674261225475

View: https://twitter.com/gregory_jullian/status/1620714674261225475

 

[Berniece]

Powless was so strong last race, wonder if he can keep up his momentum

 

[DNP-Old]

Echelons.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Anyone got a decent stream? GCN is georestricted the ****ers

Edit: https://ok.ru/video/4716686286439

 

[DNP-Old]

Here we go again, echelons once more. EF somehow has everyone present except for their two leaders.

 

[DNP-Old]

INEOS and Trek making carnage.

 

[BR2]

I just got into that storm with hail, snow, lightnings here, and there they are not that far away riding in sunny weather...

 

[Tim Cahill]

Good to see Joshua Tarling blowing the race open, trying to get home early because he's got his GCSE mocks later

 

[Samamba]

New crosswind section coming up now.

Also in the last 15kms.

 

[BR2]

I'm confused - did the groups come together and then there was a new split?

 

[SafeBet]

Any big name caught behind in the echelons? I'm not watching.

 

[Samamba]

I'm confused - did the groups come together and then there was a new split?

No. Still 50 seconds between 2 pelotons (2nd peleoton chasing hard with Cofidis, EF and Arkea). But new crosswind section now so groups might split again.

Any big name caught behind in the echelons? I'm not watching.

Thomas, Vauqueling (after flat tire), Powless, Pinot.

 

[BR2]

No. Still 50 seconds between 2 pelotons (2nd peleoton chasing hard with Cofidis, EF and Arkea). But new crosswind section now so groups might split again.



Thomas, Vauqueling (after flat tire), Powless, Pinot.

It took me until just now to understand that there is no other group in front, what they call the "peloton" is the second peloton, and what I would call first peloton are the leaders for them...

 

[BR2]

oh, I hate that... it's going to come together...

 

[DNP-Old]

Stop it. @Cofidis

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Arkéa would have had a rider in the front group if they had kept Quintana.

It looks like it will come back together now.

 

[Samamba]

Well this is lame

Arkéa would have had a rider in the front group if they had kept Quintana.

It looks like it will come back together now.

Vauquelin was there, he got a mechanical...

 

[Samamba]

Well, going to have ahuge fight for position in 5k when there's crosswind again.

 

[DNP-Old]

DirectVelo dropping a composition of the front group just when the gap is being closed, lol.

 

[DNP-Old]

Regroupé.