Etoile de Bessèges - Tour du Gard 2024
Latest News from 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 -
Powless powers to Etoile de Bessèges overall win in final time trial
One second the difference for GC over Mattias Skjelmose as Mads Pedersen secures final stage victory -
Skjelmose takes Etoile de Bessèges lead with stage 4 victory
Dane distances Powless to capture win on summit finish at Mont Bouquet
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 |
Stages
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Etoile de Bessèges - Tour du Gard 202431 January 2024 - 4 February 2024 | France | 2.1
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Stage 12024-01-31
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Stage 22024-02-01
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Stage 32024-02-02
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Stage 42024-02-03
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Stage 52024-02-04
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Latest Content on the Race
Powless says 'I've grown a lot' after first stage race win
By Laura Weislo published
News American puts versatility on display at Étoile de Bessèges
12 abandons, 2 broken bones, 1 dented helmet - Bessèges crash injury list
By Patrick Fletcher published
News 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
By Patrick Fletcher published
News Frenchman tells Cyclingnews about the crash that ended stage 2
How to watch the Etoile de Bessèges - live streaming
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Watch Pinot, Kwiatkowski, Cosnefroy, Teuns, De Lie and more in action at five-day French race
How to watch Etoile de Bessèges 2022 – live TV and streaming
By Cyclingnews last updated
News Ganna, Carapaz, Mollema, Pinot, Pedersen, Ackermann, Van Avermaet line up for French stage race
Coquard breaks 18-month winless streak at Etoile de Bessèges
By Daniel Ostanek published
News Cofidis sprinter says 'This victory is a reward. It will start me with a good dynamic in this new jersey'
Ganna, Carapaz, Bettiol, Pedersen and Pinot opt for hilly early-season racing at Etoile de Bessèges
By Stephen Farrand published
Preview French stage race offers testing alternative to the Saudi Tour and Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
Top News on the Race
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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' -
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
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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 -
Boasson Hagen looks ahead to Opening Weekend after Étoile de Bessèges crash
Norwegian happy at new team Total Direct Énergie
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Ineos Grenadiers' new strategic approach pays dividends at Étoile de Bessèges
Being aggressive may have cost Ineos GC but has allowed them to race says DS Servais Knaven -
Étoile de Bessèges – stage 5 time trial start times
Tim Wellens holds 44-second overall lead with next 11 riders covered by 16 seconds -
How to watch Étoile de Bessèges – live TV and streaming
Sunday's time trial set to decide final podium placings
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