Etoile de Bessèges 2018

Once the major season opener for the French riders, Etoile de Bessèges' stature may have declined somewhat since the advent of the WorldTour, but it is still an important early-season test.

Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) used the race last year to set his intentions for the season, and went on to win a stage of the Tour de France. Bob Jungels and Belgian Nick Nuyens stand out as foreign winners amidst a palmares stacked with French names.

Read the full preview.