The Frenchman Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck), reigning U23 world champion, seized the coral leader's jersey of the Étoile de Bessèges thanks to his victory this Thursday in the 2nd stage, 163.6 km long between Marguerittes and Rousson (Gard).
In a hill sprint leading to the summit of Castellas, he beat the Dane Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek), world champion in 2019, and the Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hôtels).
Axel Laurance, 22 years old, is therefore the first leader of the event, with, in the bonus game, four seconds ahead of Mads Pedersen and six over Kévin Vauquelin, since the first stage scheduled for Wednesday around Bellegarde had been canceled at the request of the Gard prefecture, due to the social context linked to the farmers' movement.
A third stage suitable for climbers
After Bryan Coquard in 2022, a new Frenchman has established himself on the heights of Rousson, at the top of this unlisted 1.6 km climb.
“The last 50 meters were hard,” said the Breton, who collapsed after the finish line.
The leader of Alpecin-Deceuninck, who saw three of his teammates fall at the foot of the climb, produced his effort 150 m from the goal and resisted the return of Mads Pedersen.
The Dane, huge favorite for the stage and the race, returned to the Frenchman's wheel, but he stalled at the end and finished 2nd, as in 2022.
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In the general classification, the gaps are already significant in this race which is often decided by a few seconds.
The main favorites are still lying in wait, starting with the Decathlon-AG2R runners, who place Benoît Cosnefroy (2020 winner), Axel Baudin and Aurélien Paret-Peintre in the Top 10.
This bodes well for a moving race on Friday during the 3rd stage, which takes place around Bessèges on semi-mountainous terrain.
This is the only day suitable for climbers and punchers, before a return to the plain on Saturday and a 10.6 km time trial in Alès on Sunday.