The French cyclist Christophe Laporte won the first stage of the Estrella de Bessegès, on a day in which Egan Bernal and Rigoberto Urán they gave up the time when they were cut in an autumn, in which they were not involved and, in the end, they gave only small differences. Egan finished 114 in 2 seconds and Uranus 115 in 2 seconds. They are generally in the same positions of the day, but 12 seconds apart.
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Laporte, 28 years old and winner of the test in 2019, achieved success with 600 meters until an attack that allowed him to raise his arms as a winner, with a time of 3h.14.30, as well as his compatriot Nacer Bouhanni (Arkea Samsic). The main group entered within 2 seconds with the former Danish world champion on the road Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo) in front.
The premiere of the French event, which will run until next Sunday, was enlivened by a starting break with three modest riders: the French Louvet y Delettre and the Belgian Paquot, leaving the peloton to reach differences that reached 9 minutes.
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There was a reaction from the teams interested in the massive arrival, so in the middle of the race AG2R and Bora-Hansgrohe they stabilized the adventure in 3 minutes, a rent that was lower as the finish line approached the Cota de Le Tour in Bellegarde. Lotto-Soudal and Cofidis helped to destroy the illusions of the trio of fugitives, who ended up being absorbed by Welcome 10 kilometers from the last line.
The end invited the emotion, because in the last 600 meters the road increased by 6.3 percent, an obstacle for the fastest men and an invitation for cyclists with a final “punch”.
General regrouping and start of the action protocol for victory. A section follows in a frantic, ungovernable rhythm of multiple interests in the fight for the first leader knit.
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Last minute maneuvers forced Ineos to Bernal and Geraint Thomas. The illustrious names were spared a fall caused by a “sharpener” who knocked down a handful of runners.
The first nerves of the season. Triumphs are sold expensively in a cycling that still lives with daily uncertainty due to the health pandemic. The scene was in the air, the battle in search of position.
The Italian Filippo Ganna (Ineos), world champion in time, sharpened the peloton until it was divided into several sectors. The final wall remained. Sprinter Nacer Bouhanni was the first to light the safety with an attack that allowed him to be a few meters away, but Laporte, very carefully, hit the wheel.
With the experience gained in this career, Laporte joined his compatriot to make the final selection for victory. He attacked 200 meters from the flag and successfully won the fourth stage at Estrella de Bessegès, the talismanic test for the cyclist La Seyne-sur-Mer. A good premiere of the season.
Laporte will defend the leader’s shirt 4 seconds ahead of Bouhanni and 8 seconds ahead of Pedersen in the second stage which takes place on Thursday between Saint-Geniès and La Calmette, 154.2 kilometers.
EFE