Étoile de Bessèges 2023 (February 1-5)

[Berniece]

Shades of 2010 Sagan?

Actually I guess Sagan was a better climber.

And he won 2 Paris Nice stage, that’s something different still

 

[Samamba]

50km/u wind and complete carnage in the first hour of the race.

First echelon: De Lie, Van Moer, Van Avermaet, Leroux, Sivakov, Pedersen, Mosca, Piccolo, Powless, Houle, Vanmarcke, Latour, Van Gestel, Mozzato, Valvasori

1' advantage on 2nd group.

There is like 40k of headwind coming up and a lot of teams don't have their GC rider in the first group so might still come together. Ideal situation for Powless and Latour tho.

EDIT: Skjelmose also there!

 

[DNP-Old]

This is normally a situation where INEOS just place 6 riders into the first echelon, but they've been slacking twice now.

 

[RedheadDane]

EDIT: Skjelmose also there!

The Classics rider in a climber's body, as Pedersen so nicely put it.

 

[F_Cance]

That's a risky move. Not sure if they can ride with the fresher GC favs in the peloton if they are getting caught

 

[DNP-Old]

That's a risky move. Not sure if they can ride with the fresher GC favs in the peloton if they are getting caught

It ain't much of a casual ride in the peloton either. Very high speeds and patches of groups on the road.

 

[Samamba]

1'30 is a big gap on a group of 16 that works together well

 

[Samamba]

It ain't much of a casual ride in the peloton either. Very high speeds and patches of groups on the road.

it is just the domestics of arkea and cofidis working in the bunch tho
and its a ridiculous headwind right now

 

[Samamba]

Like 12 riders left in first group I think. Piccolo dropped. Headwind till 35k from the finish line, than crosswind again, but roads not as open as before.

 

[Salvarani]

Piccolo back in peloton now.

Gap 1 minute 20 seconds.

 

[Salvarani]

Most of the French teams working in the peloton behind.

 

[Samamba]

Gap went to 1'10 but it's 1'30 now. I think the pelotons domestics are done for. Front group might just be the strongest guys in the race.

 

[Samamba]

Arkea sacrificing their last dom now on the penultimate climb. Basically now or never for the peloton

 

[Salvarani]

Arkea sacrificing their last dom now on the penultimate climb. Basically now or never for the peloton

Got some help from the motos for a bit as well.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Nothing says 'training for opening weekend in a few weeks' like the composition of this breakaway.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Funny how disinterested the peloton is in the chase.

 

[Salvarani]

Pedersen looking good for the classics.

 

[DNP-Old]

Sivakov really not doing himself any favours with these interviews.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Danish win
time for a coffee

 

[KZD]

De Lie only losing 1:30min to Skjelmose and Powless. Pretty good performance and great attitude.

 

[Red Rick]

How far behind did Pinot start the climb?

 

[DNP-Old]

How far behind did Pinot start the climb?

About as much as he lost on the line.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Which of the riders in the top 10 of the stage was not in the break/front group?

 

[F_Cance]

5,6,9 and 10

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Thank you!

In the results I can only see the first 10, so anyone that saw the race that saw something of Anders Halland Johannesen? He had a bad crash in the sprint yesterday, so could be a reason to underperform, but I would’ve hoped he could compete with riders like Bernard and Laurance on such a climb.