Samuel Leroux takes breakaway victory on stage 4 of Etoile de Besseges

Samuel Leroux has taken the win on stage 4 of Etoile de Besseges, his first professional victory, as the breakaway prevailed in France.

Coming into the final 10km, a group of five leaders, including best-placed Samuel Leroux at 1:16, Stefan Bissegger and Dries de Bondt, still held a narrow advantage over the peloton. With the time gap still at 1:25 at the foot of the final climb up to the line, things were looking positive for the breakaway.

As the lead group began to disintegrate with infighting, it was de Bondt and Jonas Iversby Hvideberg who attempted to power clear. When they began to ponder however, the remainder of the break regained contact and in the finale it was Samuel Leroux of Van Rysel - Roubaix who took the win ahead of Bissegger and de Bondt as a raging peloton neared.