Job done ahead of the queen stage
# Battling the Elements: Peloton Prepares for Challenging Stages Ahead
On Thursday, the second stage of the Étoile de Bessèges–Tour du Gard unfolded under challenging weather conditions as the peloton made its way to Domessargues. Despite the elements, the day culminated in a gripping bunch sprint, with Cyril Barthe marking his presence by securing his first top-10 finish of the season, coming in 10th place. Notably, teammates Maxime Decomble and Ewen Costiou navigated the day’s trials without incident, finishing safely with the peloton in anticipation of the tougher hilly stages ahead.
Following a thrilling finish in Bellegarde on Wednesday, the Thursday stage offered pure sprinters their first true opportunity, featuring a slightly uphill finish after 162 kilometers of racing. Similar to the previous day’s dynamics, four riders broke away early, leading to a tense chase as the peloton dealt with challenging weather. “Today, the main objective was to protect our GC leaders,” stated Benoît Vaugrenard. He added, “With the rain and some exposed sections with crosswinds, it was still a risky day, and it was extremely important to stay well positioned and alert. Only in the final ten kilometers, if everything was under control, could we then move up to try and contest the sprint with Cyril.”
Groupama-FDJ United demonstrated exceptional teamwork, staying near the front throughout the race and even taking control in the closing minutes. However, the team faced a setback when Axel Huens crashed within the last four kilometers. “Everything was going well, but Axel crashed and that disrupted us a bit,” Benoît explained. “The positive thing is that he’s fine, despite some nasty scrapes.” In the sprint, Cyril Barthe delivered a commendable effort but ultimately settled for tenth place, with Luxembourg’s Mathieu Kockelmann claiming victory. “This week, we knew we first had to get through the tricky stages before the two key days for the general classification — Sunday’s time trial and tomorrow’s stage to Bessèges,” Benoît concluded confidently, highlighting their potential strategies moving forward.
As of Thursday, Ewen Costiou and Maxime Decomble stood 12th and 13th respectively in the general classification, trailing race leader Tom Crabbe by twelve seconds. The team’s focus now shifts towards the critical stages ahead, with high hopes resting on their strong roster.
