Etoile de Bessèges - Tour du Gard 2025

'Not the result of a tyre or rim malfunction' - cause of Marc Brustenga's freak crash revealed

The Spaniard walked away following crash at Étoile de Bessèges, but pulled out of the race as a precaution
Étoile de Bessèges: Kévin Vauquelin takes stage 5 time trial win to clinch overall

Frenchman beats Rémi Cavagna by 19 seconds to seal race victory
Étoile de Bessèges down to 64 riders as Kern Pharma drop out over safety concerns

Organisers praise remaining riders for 'professionalism' as CPA vow to push improved safety in smaller races through SafeR

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Étoile de Bessèges overview
Date	February 5-9, 2025
Start location	Bellegarde
Finish location	Ales
Distance	655.6km
Previous edition	2024 Étoile de Bessèges
Previous winner	Mads Pedersen

Results

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LHERMITAGE FRANCE FEBRUARY 09 Stage and overall race winner Kevin Vauquelin of France and Team Arkea BB Hotels celebrates after the 55th Etoile de Besseges Tour du Gard 2025 Stage 5 a 106km individual time trial stage from Ales to LHermitage on February 09 2025 in LHermitage France Photo by Billy CeustersGetty Images — Kevin Vauquelin took overall victory in the 2025 Étoile de Bessèges(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Étoile de Bessèges schedule
Date	Stage	Start time	Finish time
Feb 5	Stage 1: Bellegarde-Bellegarde, 159.5	12:10 CET	15:48 CET
Feb 6	Stage 2: Domessargues-Marguerittes, 165.8km	12:10 CET	15:51 CET
Feb 7	Stage 3: Bessèges-Bessèges, 132.6	12:00 CET	15:48 CET
Feb 8	Stage 4: Vauvert-Le Mont Bouquet, 155.7	12:30 CET	16:12 CET
Feb 9	Stage 5: Alès-Alès, 10.6km	13:15 CET	15:50 CET

Latest Content on the Race

Vincenzo Nibali Etoile de Besseges 2021 stage 3 Trek-Segafredo

Vincenzo Nibali: I'm getting stronger day by day

By Peter Cossins published 6 February 21

News Trek-Segafredo leader happy with the way his form has been building at Ètoile de Bessèges

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

Shining Star: Étoile de Bessèges in the spotlight

By Peter Cossins published 5 February 21

News It lost its founder two months ago, almost succumbed to Covid restrictions, but the race has emerged bigger than ever

LA CALMETTE FRANCE FEBRUARY 04 Arrival Jordi Meeus of Belgium and Team Bora Hansgrohe White Best Young Jersey during the 51st toile de Bessges Tour du Gard 2021 Stage 2 a 154km stage from SaintGenis to La Calmette Crash Injury Mud EDB2020 on February 04 2021 in La Calmette France Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images

Crashes cause chaos in Etoile de Bessèges

By Laura Weislo last updated 4 February 21

News 'A shit way to end a good sprint stage' says Mads Pedersen

EF Pro Cycling’s Rigoberto Uran rode to eighth place overall at the 2020 Tour de France

Urán happy at EF Education-Nippo and targeting the Tour de France

By Peter Cossins published 4 February 21

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

Bernal: Targeting the Giro d'Italia is the best decision for me

By Peter Cossins published 4 February 21

News Colombian says the prospect of making his Giro debut has boosted his motivation

Valgren

Valgren fractures hand on EF debut

By Patrick Fletcher published 4 February 21

News Danish rider to undergo surgery on broken metacarpals after Bessèges crash

Egan Bernal was back in action at the Étoile de Bessèges

Egan Bernal: It’s difficult to say how my recovery is going

By Peter Cossins published 3 February 21

News Colombian glad to be racing at Bessèges, but unsure about the state of his back injury

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) descends during stage 2 of the 2020 Tirreno-Adriatico

Geraint Thomas: Having two time trials at Tour de France should suit me

By Peter Cossins published 3 February 21

News Welshman's Étoile de Bessèges start is his first since crashing out of the Giro d’Italia

The Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise team in action

Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise out of Étoile de Bessèges after COVID-19 risk

By Cyclingnews published 3 February 21

News Rutsch back racing with EF Education-Nippo after second negative test

Etoile de Besseges 2020 50st Edition 5th stage Ales Ales 107 km 09022020 Benoit Cosnefroy FRA AG2R La Mondiale photo Regis GarnierBettiniPhoto2020

Etoile de Bessèges 2021 - start list

By Cyclingnews published 2 February 21

Start List Official starters as of February 2, 2021

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Maxim Van Gils forced to abandon Étoile de Bessège after car driving on course causes crash

'In this race, there are cars everywhere ... it's dangerous' says team director
Tubeless tyre blowout causes heavy crash in sprint finish at Étoile de Bessèges

Rear tyre was ejected from the rim in the impact after Spaniard tried to ride on after hitting pothole
Filippo Ganna snatches Strava KOM from Remco Evenepoel in show of early-season form

Italian beats the Belgian by a second on the Tarbena climb to Rates before season debut at Étoile de Bessèges

How to watch the Étoile de Bessèges - live streaming, TV channels

Watch Pedersen, De Lie, Van Gils, Bennett and more in action at five-day French race
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
Juillard avoids collision with fans and car during solo detour in Etoile des Bessèges

Breakaway rider misses sharp turn after KOM summit and goes off-road - Video

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Etoile de Bessèges 2021 - start list

Official starters as of February 2, 2021
10 riders to watch at Étoile de Bessèges

GC contenders, sprinters, breakaway specialists, and up-and-coming riders to keep an eye on