“I had a little revenge to take here” - Kevin Vauquelin impresses at Etoile de Bessèges

Kevin Vauquelin delivered an impressive performance on Saturday to win the overall title at the Etoile de Bessèges. The Frenchman capped off his victory with wins on the final two stages, including a decisive 10km time trial in Alès.

Speaking after his triumph, Vauquelin expressed his satisfaction with both his personal achievements and the team’s efforts. "This victory in the general classification and in the time trial are very satisfying results, personally and for the Arkéa-B&B Hotels team," he said. "I had a good lead in the general classification this morning, so that allowed me to approach this last stage well. It rewards the work done all week, and during the winter. I had a little revenge to take here on the Etoile de Bessèges, after a special week and a very trying day yesterday."

Reflecting on his performance in the time trial, Vauquelin added, "To finish like this is really good. I am happy to have inaugurated the Bianchi Aquila RC time trial bike in a good way, with this victory.”

Remember, Vauquelin is the man that won the second stage of the Tour de France last July. He has got an exceptional amount of talent, and will be crucial for Arkea this year.

“Thibault Guernalec also set a good time,” he continued. “So these are positive signs of course. It shows that it is a fast bike. I really enjoyed it today. It bodes very well for the rest of the season."

This result marks a crucial step forward for Arkéa-B&B Hotels, a team facing significant challenges as they fight to retain their WorldTour license and secure their future. The strong performance at Etoile de Bessèges provides a much-needed boost of confidence for the squad as they look to make this a pivotal season. For Vauquelin and the team, this is precisely the positive start they needed.