The Étoile de Bessèges–Tour du Gard got underway this Wednesday in a convincing way for the Groupama-FDJ United Cycling Team. After a demanding day marked by challenging weather conditions and constant tension, Maxime Decomble and Ewen Costiou held their own in the short uphill finish in Bellegarde. The 20-year-old Frenchman even came close to the podium, securing fourth place just two seconds behind the stage winner.
Seventy-two hours after the opening of the French calendar with the Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille–La Marseillaise, France’s first stage race of the season began this Wednesday and will run through Sunday. The Étoile de Bessèges–Tour du Gard thus launched its 56th edition with the now traditional explosive finish in Bellegarde. A total of 150 kilometres were on the day’s menu, with rain making life difficult for the peloton for a long time as it chased down a four-man breakaway. “We know this stage well and we’re always wary of it,” said Benoît Vaugrenard. “You can lose everything very quickly, so we had to stay vigilant on wet roads and with such a high level of tension. These are stressful days, but the team was strong, united, and fully focused on the day’s objective.” “It was very nervous today, we had to fight for position all day long, and the pace was really high in the final”, added Ewen Costiou.
“A way of thanking the team” – Maxime Decomble
In the final thirty kilometres, the peloton indeed had to work hard due to the strong resistance of the day’s breakaway. That resistance was so effective that the last man standing stayed clear until just 500 metres from the line. At the foot of the final ascent of the Côte de la Méditerranée (700 m at 8%), Maxime Decomble and Ewen Costiou were well positioned by their teammates. Although neither of them was able to follow the wheels of Tom Crabbe and Lukas Kubis in the final hectometres, they did finish in the first chasing group, two seconds back, with Maxime Decomble taking fourth place on the line. “I’m really happy because the goal was not to lose any time,” said the young rider from La Ciotat. “The whole team was protecting Ewen and me, so this result is a way of thanking them for the work they did. It was really great, and I even surprised myself on a personal level.” “The job is done,” Benoît added. “We had to be well positioned at the foot of the climb, and once we were there, we knew we could also fight for the bonus seconds. It was very close, but it’s still a pretty successful day for us.”Ewen Costiou crossed the line in eleventh position, while further gaps were made from thirteenth place onwards. “Starting well is obviously good for the group’s confidence,” Benoît concluded. “That said, we can’t afford to relax. There are still hard stages to come, and the weather could be just as challenging. Our priority remains protecting our two leaders, but if the course and stage profile allow it, we may try to go for the sprint tomorrow.”
