Etoile de Besseges 2.1 5.2 - 9.2

[Roude Leiw]

As the excitement about the Tour of Dubai seems barely contained, I think I would open for the first stage race in Europe, the Etoile de Bessèges, cat. 2.1.

Startlist

Stage 1: Bellegarde-Beaucaire 154 km, mostly flat, 2 small hills, last 50+ km from arrival >> probably a sprint (Stage 1)

Stage 2: Nîmes - St Ambroix 149 km, mostly flat, 2 small hills, last 70+ km from arrival >> probably a sprint (Stage 2)

Stage 3: Besseges - Besseges 152 km, hilly, some decent climbs >> probably a breakaway Stage 3

Stage 4: Goudargues - Laudun 156 km, twice the Mur de Laudun (+-17%), last time 15 km from arrival Stage 4

Stage 5: Ales - Ales 11km, ITT

 

[Dazed and Confused]

From last year's action, stage 4:

A good chance for Coppel to get back in business.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Are there profiles for the stages?

And Rebellin ftw of course!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Are there profiles for the stages?

And Rebellin ftw of course!

Sadly none are available.

After a bit of sleep, I seem to remember one of these early French races operates a bizarre scheme where each stage profile is revealed just before stage take off. Could apply to this race. We will see.

 

[Jakob747]

 

[Jakob747]

 

[manafana]

always find it insane their isn#t profiles surely even one from a map my rider or garmin since they have to design the route

 

[Ruudz0r]

Stage 1:

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 1:

Thanks.

Bouhanni vs Coquard then.


Ticker: http://direct.directvelo.com/live-course/1849/etoile-de-besseges--etape-1.html

 

[Flyjin]

Anyone knows a live stream?

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Break has 1.28 with less than 10 to go. In it:
Benoît Jarrier (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Laurens De Vreese (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Michael Goolaerts (Vérandas Willems), Sander Helven (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Boris Dron (Wallonie-Bruxelles) et Marcus Christie (An Post-ChainReaction)

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Break is gonna make it.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

There's also a group of ~30 that got caught up behind for some reason, which includes Gautier and Giraud.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Victoire de Sander Helven (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) !

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Top 6 :
1 Sander Helven (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise)
2 Laurens De Vreese (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)
3 Benoît Jarrier (Bretagne-Séché Environnement)
4 Boris Dron (Wallonie-Bruxelles)
5 Michael Goolaerts (Vérandas Willems),
6 Marcus Christie (An Post-ChainReaction)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Top 6 :
1 Sander Helven (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise)
2 Laurens De Vreese (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)
3 Benoît Jarrier (Bretagne-Séché Environnement)
4 Boris Dron (Wallonie-Bruxelles)
5 Michael Goolaerts (Vérandas Willems),
6 Marcus Christie (An Post-ChainReaction)

With gaps:

1 HELVEN Sander [www.procyclingstats.com] Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise 3:27:02
2 DE VREESE Laurens Wanty - Groupe Gobert ,,
3 JARRIER Benoit Bretagne - Séché Environnement ,,
4 DRON Boris Wallonie - Bruxelles ,,
5 GOOLAERTS Michael [www.procyclingstats.com] Verandas Willems ,,
6 CHRISTIE Marcus An Post - Chain Reaction 0:04
7 DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano 0:22
8 VAN ASBROECK Tom Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise ,,
9 HUTAROVICH Yauheni AG2R La Mondiale ,,
10 VANBILSEN Kenneth [www.procyclingstats.com] Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise ,,
11 DUPONT Timothy Roubaix - Lille Métropole ,,
12 SISKEVICIUS Edvaldas Team La Pomme Marseille 13 ,,

Nice win from a break.

 

[roundabout]

Stage 1:

An openrunner profile. I think I have found my new favorite race.

 

[fraserhughes]

An openrunner profile. I think I have found my new favorite race.

Does that explain the 2x Cat. 2 50m hills?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 2 profile (from procyclingstats).

Raceable indeed.

Perfect for a guy like Gallopin.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

A strong break of 15 went away early today, including Arthur Vichot, Cédric Pineau , Jérôme Coppel, Bryan Coquard, Cyril Gautier, Blel Kadri, Romain Feillu.

They were reeled in, and now, after some 40k these have 3'40''

Julien Fouchard (Cofidis), Axel Domont (AG2R La Mondiale), Clément Koretzky (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Dimitri Le Boulch (BigMat-Auber 93) et Thomas Rostollan (La Pomme Marseille 13)

 

[Netserk]

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

First hour average: 45,2 km/h

 

[Hugo87]

Tv Coverage somewhere?

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Tv Coverage somewhere?

Only 'highlights'

 

[Hugo87]

Only 'highlights'

Thank you