UPDATE 2 | INEOS, Lidl-Trek and EF Education reportedly leave Etoile de Besseges after car controversy
Cycling
The Etoile de Bessèges is a race that has in the past not received the highest reputation over the safety towards the riders, and this may be on the verge of causing a massive problem for itself. On stage 2 a car was on route and although a major accident was avoided, it caused a fall. At the start of stage 3, the exact same situation unfolded.
Stage 2 saw a shocking incident in which a car got on the race route and caused the peloton to slow down suddenly - the swerving caused a fall involving Maxim van Gils, who was forced to abandon the race. It is a very rare yet shocking incident which has already in itself earned lots of criticism to the race organizers.
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However the race continued, but the peloton has stopped stage 3 after the exact same incident happened in a roundabout on the first kilometers of the race. At current time, 13:01CET, DirectVelo reports that "Three representatives from the riders' unions are discussing with the race management. Two of them do not wish to continue". The stage may be cancelled and the race's continuation is also being put into question.
UPDADE
"The climb and descent of the Col des Brousses will be neutralized, this should apply to all laps. But the race organizers have managed to convince the riders to continue the stage, which should resume at kilometer 17 in the village of Gammal".
UPDATE 2
According to journalist Daniel Benson, at the time being three teams have had their riders return to the team busses: INEOS Grenadiers; Lidl-Trek and EF Education-EasyPost. This may indicate the teams are pulling out of the race, and may serve as leverage for further action from other teams or riders.
Soudal - Quick-Step, Lotto, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale and Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe are also reported to be leaving the race.
Race stopped #EDB2025 pic.twitter.com/yO87Yn4vKP
— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) February 7, 2025
What a disaster this has turned out to be, considering that basically half of the peloton have abandoned the race in protest. Things are not looking good for the race's organization.
Yes but nowhere near as big a disaster as the Itzulia last year, different part of safety but it as Mallorca just showed too, riders won’t put up with being forced into avoidable dangers so easily anymore. It will still take a while before organisers realise they will lose out in the end. We are still lucky that most of these are kind of close calls, any one of them could have been deadly (let’s not even discuss numbers). Take the reversing mini for example, had it turned the corner 20 seconds later, the driver would maybe only have looked left as you are taught for this situation because you are not told to check trafic on the right that might be on the wrong side of the road (e.g. overtaking where it’s usually forbidden). It would have accelerated head on into dozens of riders coming at 40, 50 or more km/h, not much remains whole then.
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- Totally. There may still be some details to disgust us but it won’t change anything to the basics of what happened and that the punishment was totally appropriate. If there was/is anything relevant to add, nothing is stopping him from doing that, he hasthe platform and connections and know-how how to defend himself in precarious affairs so why hesitate??? No use to your ego once you’re dead ;-) Barring a Trump pardon and awarding of fake US TdF titles, I don’t see it happening on this planetMistermaumau07-04-2025
- Silly comment in light of what was revealed post-race. Obviously the illness affected him on the day, he was even outsprinted by MP and Wout kept up with him.Mistermaumau07-04-2025
- Meaning, if dad was asked before he knew of the top secret* illness he wouldn’t have been able to integrate it into his “analysis”. * knowing how he likes talking, I expect it was kept secret even from him so as not to give things away.Mistermaumau07-04-2025
- Yes, but you have to take into account the order of interviews and the spread of knowledgeMistermaumau07-04-2025
- The truth is already out. Thats what the purpose of the testimony he gave was. Nevermind someone innocent would not have ruined so many lives in the process. If he somehow was ever allowed back in pro cycling or his records restored, not only would it be a travesty for Justice in sport, but it would be the end of cycling. Already done so much damage, and continues to by making stupid statements on his podcast to stay relevant. If he actually had any respect for the sport, or other people, he'd stop treating the world like fools and own his past and present. Not try and make up sob stories. Especially when all they do is highlight his entitlement and privilege.HoopoeChai07-04-2025
- "very sick" but only 3 antibiotic days? strange.
maria2024202407-04-2025 - ahahah, nice and funny boy.maria2024202407-04-2025
- You're dreaming LA Doper !frieders307-04-2025
- Care to retract that statement Johan !frieders307-04-2025
- BS! His son even admitted he was off a few % because he was sick after E3, even taking antibiotics. So he wasn't at Tadeg's level due to that !frieders307-04-2025