Live. Étoile de Bessèges: follow the first stage of the cycle race around Bellegarde

Comme depuis 2013, l’Étoile de Bessèges part de Bellegarde. Midi Libre – Alexis BETHUNE

La première étape de l'Etoile de Bessèges s'élance ce mercredi 5 février, à 12 h 10, de Bellegarde, pour une étape de 159 km. 

The first stage race in Europe, the Étoile de Bessèges starts this Wednesday, February 5, at 12:10 p.m. from Bellegarde. One hundred and forty-seven riders are at the start, among them former winners Mads Pedersen, Filippo Ganna and Benjamin Thomas, Magnus Cort-Nielsen, Mattias Skjelmose and Arnaud De Lie. But also the young French Axel Laurence or Kevin Vauquelin and the Gardois Alexandre Delettre.

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Today's stage, the Grand Prix de Bellegarde en Costières, will be 159 km with the main difficulty being the Côte de la Tour, classified in the 3rd category at the Grand Prix de la Montagne. Also watch out for the edges because the riders will be exposed to the wind on the banks of the Rhône between Aramon and Beaucaire but also on the Saint-Gilles and Gallician side. The finish should be decided by a sprint.

1:12 p.m.

After an hour of racing

The escapees Victor Vercouille (Team Flanders-Baloise), Axel Mariault (CIC U Nantes), Célestin Guillon (Van Rysel- Roubaix), Axandre Van Petegem (Wagner Bazin WB) now have a 6-minute lead over the peloton after an hour of racing. Lotto and Soudal Quick-Step are starting to regulate the pace.

12:23.

The first attacks

Four riders have broken away from the peloton: Victor Vercouille (Team Flanders-Baloise), Axel Mariault (CIC U Nantes), Célestin Guillon (Van Rysel- Roubaix), Axandre Van Petegem (Wagner Bazin WB).

12:10.

Here we go

The start of the 55th edition has just been given, the riders are setting off for 159 km around Bellegarde.

11:51.

The start is getting closer

The 147 riders are getting closer to the starting line after the presentation of the teams by the speaker Damien Martin who is replacing Daniel Mangeas who is suffering from a health problem.