Etoile de Bessèges - Tour du Gard 2024
Latest News from the Race
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Riders forced to buy second-hand shoes after UCI issues late Ekoi pedal ban
UCI steps in after authorization file was yet to be validated, forcing riders to borrow pedals and buy shoes -
Mads Pedersen goes deep to win Etoile de Bessèges
Kévin Vauquelin moves up to second overall after winning final time trial in Alès, Bettiol takes third -
Etoile de Bessèges: Samuel Leroux holds off charging field to win stage 4
Dries De Bondt takes second, Stefan Bissegger third in breakaway sprint into Méjannes-le-Clap
Date | Wednesday January 31 to Sunday February 4 |
Start location | Bellegarde |
Finish location | Alès |
Distance | 654.2km |
Previous edition | 2023 Etoile de Bessèges |
Previous winner | Neilson Powless |
The five-day Etoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard holds a special place in the cycling calendar as together with the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in Spain, which runs concurrently, Bessèges is traditionally the first stage racing event of the European season.
Created in 1971 by former pro Romain Fangille, (whose daughter Claudine Fangille-Allegre still organises it today) Bessèges is held entirely in the southerly Gard region of France. Bessèges usually has a less mountainous course than Comunitat Valenciana, meaning it is generally decided on the short last-day individual time trial.
On such a rolling course, often lacking a summit finish, time bonuses can be critical. That was the case last year, when it was won overall by Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) by just one second over Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo).
Join Cyclingnews' coverage of the 2024 Etoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard with race reports, results, photo galleries, news and race analysis.
Etoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard start list
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Etoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard Schedule
Date | Stage | Start time | Finish time |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 31, 2024 | Stage 1: Bellegarde - Bellegarde, 160km | 12:10 CET | 15:49 CET |
Feb 1, 2024 | Stage 2: Marguerittes - Rousson, 163.5km | 11:55 CET | 15:48 CET |
Feb 2, 2024 | Stage 3: Bessèges - Bessèges, 161.1km | 12:00 CET | 15:49 CET |
Feb 3, 2024 | Stage 4: Méjannes-le-Clap - Méjannes-le-Clap, 158.4km | 12:15 CET | 15:49 CET |
Feb 4, 2024 | Stage 5: Alès - Alès | 13:15 CET | 16:15 CET |
Races
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Etoile de Bessèges - Tour du Gard 202431 January 2024 - 4 February 2024 | France | 2.1
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Stage 1 | Bellegarde - Bellegarde2024-01-31 160.1km
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Latest Content on the Race
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Crashes cause chaos in Etoile de Bessèges
By Laura Weislo last updated
News 'A shit way to end a good sprint stage' says Mads Pedersen
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Urán happy at EF Education-Nippo and targeting the Tour de France
By Peter Cossins published
News Colombian says he never thought of leaving team where he feels completely at home
![LA CALMETTE FRANCE FEBRUARY 04 Egan Arley Bernal Gomez of Colombia and Team INEOS Grenadiers during the 51st toile de Bessges Tour du Gard 2021 Stage 2 a 154km stage from SaintGenis to La Calmette EDB2020 on February 04 2021 in La Calmette France Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vFA9KD66B4zTQx2dGxnCRC-320-80.jpg)
Bernal: Targeting the Giro d'Italia is the best decision for me
By Peter Cossins published
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Valgren fractures hand on EF debut
By Patrick Fletcher published
News Danish rider to undergo surgery on broken metacarpals after Bessèges crash
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Top News on the Race
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Powless says 'I've grown a lot' after first stage race win
American puts versatility on display at Étoile de Bessèges -
12 abandons, 2 broken bones, 1 dented helmet - Bessèges crash injury list
Peloton dust themselves off for stage 3 after mass crash neutralised stage -
'A crash is always a daze, especially when you're hanging from a bridge' - Valentin Ferron on his dramatic Besseges save
Frenchman tells Cyclingnews about the crash that ended stage 2
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Larry Warbasse: It's really important to get off to a good start
Former US road champion begins 2023 at Bessèges alongside Cosnefroy and Van Avermaet then focuses on Giro -
How to watch the Etoile de Bessèges - live streaming
Watch Pinot, Kwiatkowski, Cosnefroy, Teuns, De Lie and more in action at five-day French race -
Coquard breaks 18-month winless streak at Etoile de Bessèges
Cofidis sprinter says 'This victory is a reward. It will start me with a good dynamic in this new jersey'
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How to watch Etoile de Bessèges 2022 – live TV and streaming
Ganna, Carapaz, Mollema, Pinot, Pedersen, Ackermann, Van Avermaet line up for French stage race -
Filippo Ganna extends run of time trial success but opts out of cobbled Classics
World Champion to focus on Giro d’Italia, Tokyo TT and team pursuit in 2021 -
Geraint Thomas: Bessèges was a shock to the system
Ineos Grenadiers team leader says he almost walked the uphill section of the final TT
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