The teams that will line up for the 2017 Etoile de Bessèges have been unveiled.
As in recent years, three WorldTour teams will tackle the five-day race, the French AG2R - La Mondiale and FDJ and Belgian Lotto Soudal. Nine pro continental formations will also be invited for a race that will mainly be made up of French and Belgian teams.
The race will have its well-known format with four road stages suited to the sprinters and the difficult final time trial in Ales. Last year Jerome Coppel won the race but as he has now retired, a new champion will be crowned.
Teams:
WorldTour: AG2R - La Mondiale, FDJ, Lotto Soudal
Professional Continental: Cofidis, Delko Marseille-Provence KTM, Direct Energie, Fortunéo Vital Concept, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Sport Vlaanderen, Verandas Willems-Crelan, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
Continental: Armee de Terre, HP BTP-Auber 93, Roubaix Lille Metropole, An Post-Chain Reaction, Roth-Akros
Course:
Wednesday, February 1: Stage 1, Bellegarde Beaucaire (158km)
Thursday, February 2: Stage 2: Nîmes-Rodilhan (152km)
Friday, February 3: Stage 3: Bessèges, Bessèges (152km)
Saturday, February 4: Stage 4: Chusclan -Laudun (153km)
Sunday, February 5: Stage 5: Time trial in Ales (12km)
29.03: La Route Adélie de VItré |
30.03: The Bueng Si Fai |
30.03: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain |
30.03: Volta Limburg Classic |
31.03: Ronde van Vlaanderen |
31.03: Ronde van Vlaanderen |
29.03 - 01.04: Ster van Zuid Limburg |
01.04: Gran Premio del Perdono |
01.04: Giro del Belvedere |
01.04: Ronde de Mouscron |
Timo DE JONG 25 years | today |
Pieter CORDEEL 35 years | today |
Josh BARLEY 38 years | today |
Lisban QUINTERO 42 years | today |
Serkan BALKAN 30 years | today |
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