PREVIEW | Etoile de Bessèges 2024 - Mads Pedersen and Ben Healy among favourites for explosive race
Cycling
Preview. From the 31st of January to the 4th of February the peloton is in France and will race the Etoile de Bessèges. It is the opening stage-race of the French calendar in 2024.
The opening stage of the race features the traditional finale in Bellegard. 160 kilometers on the menu which are mostly flat, but they lead up to one of the most explosive finales of the season. The ramp to the finish line is 800 meters at 7% and will be one of the biggest watt displays of the entire season.
Stage 2 takes place from Marguerittes to Rousson and is 164 kilometers long. On paper a day for the puncheurs, but there are a few barriers. 13.2 kilometers at 3.6% and 3.1 kilometers at 5.8% halfway through the day will be a bit of a warm-up, where some damage can be done to the fast men. However the situation will develop towards the end, where there are a couple of small hilltops before the finale, which in itself is on a 900-meter ascent at 9%, which will create some more gaps and provide for a spectacular sprint.
Stage 1: Bellegarde - Bellegarde (Côte de la Tour), 160.8 kilometers
Stage 2: Marguerittes - Rousson, 164 kilometers
Stage 3 finally does not finish a hilltop sprint to the line, but that does not mean the riders are in for a calm day. Starting and finishing in Bessèges, the day features several ascents. The last four climbs are: 10Km at 3.2%, 4Km at 5.9%, 6.7Km at 3.6% and 2.4 kilometers at 5.1%. These hilltops will open the race quite a lot before the flat finale. A reduced bunch sprint could decide the day, but a small group or solo escapee can also succeed.
Another important day for the overall classification, the fourth day of racing has a summit finish in Mejannes-le-Clap. Overall, not a too difficult day, in a slightly hilly circuit. However all will be about the final ascent which is 4.4 kilometers at 4.6%, this will create some differences but the ascent does provide the opportunity for many riders to succeed.
The final day of the race is most likely to be considered the queen stage. After four hilly days the riders make the trip over to Alès for a 10.6-kilometer long time-trial. This will have a very difficult climb to the finish which is 2.8 kilometers at 5.6%, however features ramps above 15% where the riders will go to the absolute limit.
Stage 3: Bessèges - Bessèges, 161.4 kilometers
Stage 4: Méjannes-le-Clap - Méjannes-le-Clap, 158.7 kilometers
Stage 5 (ITT): Alés - Alès, 10.6 kilometers
Prediction Etoile de Bessèges 2024 overall classification:
*** Ben Healy, Kévin Vauquelin
** Mads Pedersen, Kévin Geniets, Alberto Bettiol
* Simon Carr, Alex Baudin, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Benjamin Thomas, Rémy Rochas, Andreas Leknessund
** Mads Pedersen, Kévin Geniets, Alberto Bettiol
* Simon Carr, Alex Baudin, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Benjamin Thomas, Rémy Rochas, Andreas Leknessund
Pick: Mads Pedersen
Preview written by Rúben Silva.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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