Etoile de Bessèges 2024: Mads Pedersen, as expected

Vauquelin, Pedersen et Bettiol ,le podium de l’étape mais aussi du général. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Le Danois a remporté l’épreuve, dimanche 4 févrie, mais le Français Kevin Vauquelin vainqueur de l’étape a fini à 2 secondes.

Another crazy finish on Étoile de Bessèges and despite everything an expected winner, Mads Pedersen. He was said to be untouchable in the last time trial in Alès which he won in 2023, the Dane finished in second place on the heights of the Ermitage, which gave him allowed you to win the event.

With two second places and a success in four stages, it is difficult for the 2019 world champion to do better, yet he saved his leader's coral jersey by two short seconds. Enough to sweat and not because the temperature was over 20°C on the Alesian course.

Pedersen almost fell

The leader of the Lidl-Trek who had to take off his shoes in a turn taken too tight and on the verge of falling, almost got the better of a young Frenchman. After Axel Laurance, Thursday in Rousson, it was Kévin Vauquelin who beat him in the time trial by ten seconds!

A hell of a performance that says a lot about the potential of the 21-year-old rider. "He's really a big customer and he's going to become a very big one runner", prophesized Romain Le Roux, the former professional cyclist and now in the organization of the event. He had already distinguished himself on the Étoile de Bessèges in 2023 with a 5th place on the Mont Bouquet stage and a 4th place during the Alésian time trial. Arkea – B & B Hôtels had established itself on the Tour du Var and Jura.

#cyclisme #etoiledebesseges Victoire de Mads Pedersen sur la course 2e du contre la montre pic.twitter.com/NzQiO6GfHr

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) February 4, 2024

Proof of his ambition, the young man from Bayeux admitted that he was aiming "the general and not the stage" this Sunday, February 4. "The chrono is a fight against oneself so victory is a bonus. There was still Mads Pedersen opposite who was world champion and had good results in World Tour events. I have nothing to be ashamed of, I was more in a position to win than to lose."

Three French victories over four stages

Like the French without complexes in this 54th edition where they won three victories on the four stages since we must add the success of Samuel Leroux, Saturday, in Méjannes-le-Clap. We must also add the presence of three other tricolors in the top ten with the 5th, 6th and 7th places of Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ), Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Alex Baudin (Décathlon – AG2R La Mondiale).

They were able to live up to the strong men of the peloton who were expected Alberto Bettiol and Ben Healy finally 3rd and 4th overall thanks to their good time trials. Their EF-Education Easypost team delivering a real demonstration in this final stage with five riders in the first seven!

A great opposition between young French and foreign runners which we will surely find in 2025 on a course where we should find Bellegarde, Bessèges and Alès but also the arrival at Mont Bouquet. Among the new features, an arrival in Marguerittes and a stage in Vauvert. Looking forward to next year.
 

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