One day late and after the cancellation of the first stage scheduled for Wednesday, the 54th Étoile de Bessèges cyclist set off this Thursday from Marguerittes, for four days of racing through the Gard.
132 runners divided into 19 teams took the start at 11:55 a.m. of this 2nd stage of 163.6 kilometers which leads to the summit of Castellas, in Rousson.
On Tuesday, the organizers announced the cancellation of the first stage, scheduled for Wednesday around Bellegarde, on the recommendation of the prefecture due to the “social context” due to the angry movement of farmers.
The FDSEA du Gard had, however, committed to the organization not to disrupt the race in exchange for speaking at the start village, a commitment reiterated by the union on Wednesday evening.
“We are of course committed not to disrupt the race in its entirety. Any person who intervenes in the race will do so under their own responsibility,” underlines the FDSEA press release.
On Thursday, no speeches took place at the start but the peloton set off at the scheduled time. Among the riders was the Dane Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek), 2019 world champion and favorite for the final victory, Sunday in Alès.