Angel Madrazo opened Caja Rural’s 2016 account by taking a surprise win on stage 4 of the Etoile de Besseges. Having been part of a seven-rider break, the Spaniard and five of his companions narrowly held off the peloton and he came out on top in the uphill sprint by beating Evaldas Siskevicius (Delko Marseille) and Dieter Bouvry (Roubaix). Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) was second in the peloton’s sprint for seventh and defended the overall lead on the eve of the time trial.

We have gathered several reactions.

Triumphant Angel Madrazo: I knew I was the strongest

Caja Rural - Seguros RGA took the team’s first victory of the 2016 season when Ángel Madrazo won stage 4 of Etoile de Bessèges. The Spaniard was part of an early breakaway of seven riders, which ultimately managed to keep the peloton at bay and fight for the win.
 
Last week, Madrazo showed great shape in the Mallorca Challenges and the team knew that today’s demanding finish could suit him well.
 
Sports director Eugenio Goikoetxea explains:
 

“With 30 km left to go, we started to realize that the break could make it all the way. We knew that Madrazo’s condition was good and on the final hard 400 meters, he was simply the strongest”. 
 
“From the very first moment, we worked together very well in the break, which we had to in order to make it all the way,” Madrazo said. I knew my legs were good so I gave it my all on the last 400 meters. It worked out perfectly.

”The first thing I thought about after crossing the line was my wife and my son. They have been an enormous motivation for me to take this win.”

"Yesterday I missed the right breakaway. It was a mistake on my part so I wanted to rectify it today. It was close to my heart. I did not miss out,” he told Directvelo.

“In the break, I thought I was the strongest. But I knew my only chance of winning was to stay with my breakaway companions until the last kilometer. On the final circuit, there was a strong headwind and it was impossible to hold on alone until the finish.

“This is the first victory of our team this year, it is always important to open the account. I hope others will give more success to the team. 

“Personally, my first goal is the Vuelta a Murcia. Then there will be an even more important race with Tirreno-Adriatico where we will be present for the first time since the creation of our team. It will be important to do well there." 

It was not only Ángel Madrazo who finished the day on top of the podium for Caja Rural - Seguros RGA this Saturday. The U23 team also tasted success when Jon Irisarri won the first race of the year.

Sylvain Chavanel: If other teams want to win, they have to work

"We wanted to control the race without wanting to bring the break back at any cost. We already have three victories. If other teams want success, they must finalize the work,” Sylvain Chavanel told Directvelo.

“I was not afraid of that finish. I was up there in the finale. There were no bonuses, the goal was simply not to miss a split. 

“Before the bell, there was a break. I found myself at the front but it was not what I wanted. It even surprised me a little. There was no attack from me (smiles). 

”I'm never too serene before the first time trial of the season, but I'm not going to ask questions about my age. I'm still one of the best specialists in France - if my legs are there… Today they were fine. 

“I still felt tired from the day before as we had a fast race on a hilly course. I should not be the only one with sore legs. 

“No team came to help us. They were obviously not very interested in the victory. We have lost nothing today."

Young Swiss back in the mountains jersey in Besseges

Roland Thalmann (Roth) managed to take the mountains jersey back and will win the competition if he gets through the time trial.

"I missed the breakaway of five riders (Bouvry, Brun, Madrazo, Rostollan and Siskevicius, ed). A rider took off in pursuit (Scott). Direct Energie blocked the front but I managed to get through on one side. I first returned to Scott and then the breakaway. I made ​​a huge effort to get back,” he told Directvelo.

“I could take points in the KOM sprint. Once the 3rd KOM had been passed, it was over for me. To take the mountains  jersey is very important for the team and for me. This will motivate us for the rest of the season." 

Direct Energie sports director: We didn’t get any help

"The stage went well. The riders handled it well. We have a great team in this race. We are very confident for the final time trial as we have seen that Sylvain is not done yet,” Direct Energie sports director Jimmy Engoulvent told Directvelo.

“We rode for three days and we now have a privileged position in the general classification. Nobody came to help us. 

”We are very happy with the victory of Angel Madrazo. I was an attacker when I was racing and I was very happy when the breakaways stayed away. Riders lost interest in the race because they were afraid it would again be a sprint finish. In any case, they did not win today either.”

Crash destroys FDJ plans in Besseges
FDJ sports director Yvon Madiot noted that the daily efforts of his riders have not been rewarded since the start of the Etoile de Bessèges. Having worked in the first three stages, FDJ has seen their plan being undermined by a crash of Arthur Vichot 15 kilometers from the finish in Laudun.

"We planned to do something big with 10 kilometers to go to do the sprint with Arthur Vichot but we got outr plan destroyed by a crash caused by Coquard who crossed the road. He has hurt his knee instead of being in the lead. His teammates had to bring him back to the pack and position him. It completely disorganized us and Arthur even if he takes eleventh place. He had already given a lot and therefore could not really defend his chances.

"We just hope for a good time trial by Thibaut Pinot or Arthur Vichot and all the riders of the team will do this time trial full gas because it is the first official release of our new bike and we and Lapierre will take the opportunity to do a test."

Youngest rider in the race in the top 5 in Besseges

Jake Scott (An Post), the youngest rider in the race, finished fifth.

"I attacked with the intention to help the team, the gap seemed small when I jumped, but it took a long time to get across and I was in between the peloton and the break when I was joined by another rider, after being on my own having another rider was very welcome. We were then able to press on more after some recovery periods to eventually close the gap,” he told

”It was only when we started the local laps that the gap didn't seem to be falling, so for a couple of laps there was a slight hope of coming to the finish, with one lap to go we still had 1.30 ish then suddenly it went under a minute so we had to press on a lot more, by the time we reached the finish climb the day of pushing had got me, and it was more about survival the line than a good position, but eventually I finished 5th, which felt OK to come home with after the days efforts."

DS Kurt Bogaerts added: "I was so nice to see the strength and determination of Jake to close the gap to the leaders. A realy good way to start the season and take confidence out for himself and the team, the way to go!"