All eyes on the final time trial

# Showdown in the Hills: Étoile de Bessèges–Tour du Gard Prepares for Thrilling Final Time Trial

The climax of the Étoile de Bessèges–Tour du Gard is set for Sunday in the challenging hills above Alès. After a dramatic penultimate stage on Saturday, which culminated in an uphill sprint, attention now shifts to the decisive time trial. Axel Huens put forth a commendable performance, finishing seventh, while teammate Ewen Costiou matched his timing. Unfortunately, Maxime Decomble fell short, losing seven seconds as the competition heats up.

This Saturday’s stage directed the peloton toward Vauvert on a predominantly flat route, leading to a familiar race scenario. A lively start gave way to a strategic three-man breakaway, but as competition stiffened on a classified climb, the pack managed to close the gap significantly. “A three-man breakaway quickly went clear, but on a classified climb the peloton closed to within a minute, and we could see that some teams wanted to open up the race again,” Benoît explained. His foresight proved essential, helping maintain strong positions leading into the final stretches.

As the race unfolded, the atmosphere remained calm, allowing for preparation ahead of technical finishing challenges. The last 500 meters proved steep at 5%, testing the abilities of the pure sprinters. Benoît noted, “It’ll be full gas tomorrow,” setting an exciting tone for the upcoming showdown.

Despite facing two previous climbs, the peloton was expected to stay tightly knit. Groupama-FDJ United strategically positioned themselves in the front as they approached the circuit. “We were a bit wary of this circuit, which we went to recon on Monday,” Benoît remarked. “We knew there could be splits.” Yet, as Maxime faced apprehension and struggled to maintain his position, Axel Huens and Ewen Costiou surged ahead, with Huens securing an impressive seventh-place finish and Costiou holding in the front group.

As they gear up for the final time trial, Ewen Costiou currently sits in 11th place overall, trailing race leader Lukas Kubis by 20 seconds, while Maxime Decomble ranks 14th, 27 seconds back. “It’ll be full gas tomorrow and we’ll see how it turns out. But I’m confident,” Benoît concluded, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the race.