After a few years riding on the French amateur scene, former Ag2r rider Julien Loubet is back at the continental level with the Marseille-KTM 13 team. Yesterday he proved that he is still strong enough to compete with the best when he won the mountains jersey in the Etoile de Besseges.

"The results of the Etoile de Bessèges are good," he told Directvelo. "It's always nice to win a jersey, to get on the podium in a race. I would have liked a bit more but almost every stage ended in a bunch sprint. The stages were flat, windy. The Belgians were where they had to be. It is more difficult for a puncher-climber.

This time trial was particularly difficult with a demanding climb at the end. I had a good ride. I did not prepare specificalle for this and the team didn't do that either. We thought we would do a little better with Ignatas Konovalovas and Yoann Paillot, but the balance of the week is good for us. There was the 2nd place for Alexandre Blain on the second stage and we were active. The terrain should suit us better in the next races at the Tour du Haut Var and Drôme-Ardèche. My week is encouraging but I still need to improve. I would like to win something before the month of July. Following the cancellation of the Tour Mediteraneen, I will participate in the l'Essor Basque next weekend."