Canada’s Hugo Houle goes on the attack at the Étoile de Bessèges, Roy Jans earns stage victory
Wanty Groupe-Gobert's Roy Jans emerged from a chaotic bunch sprint to win Thursday's wintry second stage of the Étoile de Bessèges, the four-day UCI 2.1 stage race held in southern France as an opener to the European racing season.
Wanty Groupe-Gobert’s Roy Jans emerged from a chaotic bunch sprint to win Thursday’s wintry second stage of the Étoile de Bessèges, the five-day UCI 2.1 stage race held in southern France as an opener to the European racing season.
The riders likely wished they were back in warmer climes as they took to the start line with 155 km of freezing, windswept racing ahead of them. For the first three hours, they dawdled, averaging just 31 km/h against the icy headwind, including three stops to complain to the jury about the conditions. Meanwhile, Tim Kerkhof of Roompot had enough of the cold and took off to gain nearly five minute’s advantage. The Roompot rider was away alone for most of the race before Canada’s Hugo Houle launched an attack with French star Thomas Voeckler on the final climb. Unfazed by the frigid wind, or the gradient, Houle and Voeckler battled up to Kerkhof, caught him on the descent, and then dropped him.
Cyclisme: @HugoHoule en échappée avec Thomas Voeckler à la 2e étape de l'Étoile de Bessèges. Ont été repris.
— Simon Drouin (@simondrouin) February 5, 2015
With the peloton charging behind, the pair stayed away until the 10-km-to-go mark, where they were finally brought back into the fold. Heading into the finale, Lotto-Soudal took control of the pack, protecting their teammate, the race leader, Kris Boeckmans for the sprint. Disaster struck inside the last kilometre with a massive crash that brought down Boeckmans and several other contenders. Jans skirted the crash then kicked clear to win ahead of second-placed Alexandre Blain of Team Marseille 13 KTM and Bob Jungels of Trek Factory Racing, who was third. Kris Boeckmans retained the leader’s jersey. Hugo Houle finished 161st, shattered after his tremendous effort.
Je n'ai pas besoin de vous expliquer la photo, une échappée avec Thomas Voeckler ça fait mal aux jambes ! No… http://t.co/lYOcosCbYE
— Hugo Houle (@HugoHoule) February 5, 2015
The racing will continue tomorrow with a 152-km circuit that starts and finishes in Bessèges.
