Month: February 2021

By David Hunter Istres > Chalet Reynard 152km The big day in the GC battle.

By David Hunter Cassis > Manosque 174.5km A fairly standard affair, but then I thought that about stage 1!

By David Hunter Aubagne > Six-Fours-Les-Plages 182km Not your average opening stage.

By David Hunter The Tour de Provence continues the run of French stage races happening in February. Just like Bessèges, the field is very strong with teams needing to get race kilometres into the legs of their team leaders. The route is lumpy, with just one properly flat stage, which means we don’t have many top…

By David Hunter Alès > Alès 10.7km ITT The race ends with a tough ITT. This stage has been used in this race for many years, most riders know it well. We have 8km of flat, with barely any need for brakes, then a tough 2.7km climb.

By David Hunter Buninyong > Buninyong 186.5km A route so familiar it feels like a family member. 16 laps of the circuit, which features the ascent of Mount Buninyong.

By David Hunter Rousson > Saint Siffret 151.5km After today’s fun, stage 4 promises to be another cracker, the profile doesn’t really do it justice. The riders first pass through the finishing line after 64km, then they head out on a big loop before coming over the line again after 110km. We then have two laps…

By David Hunter Bessèges > Bessèges 154.6km A stage with a couple of possibilities, it all depends on how the teams want to approach it. The bunch climb from the gun, and it keeps on going, with four hills in the opening 50km.

By David Hunter Saint-Geniès > La Calmette 154km   The second stage looks like a straightforward affair, we should get our first big sprint of the season. There are a couple of climbs along the way, but nothing to worry the peloton. The last little kicker is 800m at 4%, and it crests with around 9km…

By David Hunter Bellegarde > Bellegarde 143.5km The opening stage of the race is the same as last year. Back then the wind blew, and the peloton was smashed to pieces, before Alexys Brunel escaped from the small front group to take a surprise win. Will we see something similar this year?

By David Hunter Welcome to the first stage race of the season. Due to the cancellation of other races, Bessèges now boasts a start list stronger than the race has ever seen for many a year. Time to look at the stages. Stage 1 The race begins with a nasty uphill sprint. With bonus seconds available…