Mads Pedersen 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒 to the finish! 🚴♂️💨 Stage 3 belongs to the Lidl–Trek rider after conquering the final sprint at the Star of Besseges! 🌟 #EDB2024
Mads Pedersen blasts past everyone in the Star of Bessèges, claiming his first win of the season before Milan Menten
CyclingFriday, 02 February 2024 at 12:18
Mads Pedersen won the second stage of the Star of Bessèges on Friday afternoon. The 28-year-old Dane was the fastest in the streets of Bessèges, ahead of the Belgian Milan Menten (Lotto-Dstny) and the Norwegian Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility).
Compared to the opening stage on Thursday afternoon, which was won by Axel Laurance, there were even more climbs on the menu! The challenging course inspired three riders in particular to make an early break: Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and Frenchmen Léo Danès (CIC U Nantes Atlantique) and Paul Hennequin (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur). They weren't alone for long, as five more riders, including Belgians Jelle Vermoote (Bingoal WB) and Gilles de Wilde (Team Flanders-Baloise), Dutchman Alexander Konijn, and Frenchmen Jonathan Couanon of Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur and Enzo Boulet (CIC U Nantes Atlantique), quickly joined the effort to stay ahead.
However, their lead was short-lived. A new group of seven riders soon formed a breakaway, including Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost), Sander de Pestel (Decathlon AG2R), Alexis Gougeard (Cofidis), Thibault Guernalec (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies), Théo Delacroix (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93), and Abrahamsen making a second effort. Together, they tackled the twin climbs of the Col des Brousses, measuring 2.4 km with an average gradient of 5.1%.
Lidl-Trek settles Pedersen's dirty business
Pedersen was determined to take revenge for his sprint defeat on Thursday, but Pedersen faced the setback of losing key teammate Daan Hoole to illness. The Dane then had to navigate through the challenging finale without any mishaps, facing the Col des Brousses for the third time. Rémy Rochas was not keen on a sprint with Pedersen and launched an attack on that climb with a rider from Uno-X Mobility on his wheel. However, his break didn't last long, and Lidl-Trek swiftly took control in the descent to set up their sprinter.
After a few more skirmishes, the large peloton stayed well together, and in the arrival town of Bessèges, we were set for a bunch sprint. However, Marco Brenner (Tudor Pro Cycling) had other plans, taking advantage of a clever move on a bridge to break away. Lidl-Trek had a hard time closing the gap on the former DSM-Firmenich rider, but fortunately for Pedersen, they received support from Uno-X.
In the final sprint, Pedersen proved unbeatable, out-sprinting everyone to the line. Menten and Tiller rounded out the podium, with Sandy Dujardin and Benoit Cosnefroy securing spots in the top five.
Stage 3 results in the Star of Bessèges 2024
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Il Lombardia 2024
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024