Mont Bouquet (France) (AFP)
Australian Ben O'Connor (NTT) won solo on Saturday at the top of Mont Bouquet (Gard) during the 4th and penultimate stage of the Etoile de Bessèges cyclist, including Frenchman Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R La Mondiale) took the lead the day before the finish.
During this day, part of the Pont du Gard, the 24-year-old runner outpaced his compatriot Simon Clarke (Education First), 2nd, and the Polish driver Kamil Malecki (CCC), 3rd, after 138.7 km of race. seconds.
O'Connor approached the final climb, an unprecedented arrival at the end of a 4.5 km climb at almost 10% average, 45 seconds ahead of the peloton, and in the company of three team members '' a breakaway of eleven runners. He got rid of Clarke, the last to resist him, 800 meters from the line.
Frenchman Benoît Cosnefroy, 5th at 29 seconds, meanwhile stole the leader's coral jersey from his compatriot Alexys Brunel (Groupama-FDJ), 13th at 56 seconds. Before the final time trial of Alès on Sunday, 24 seconds now separate the two men, well on their way to fighting for the final victory.
On Sunday, the lap time in the Cévennes capital is 10.74 km long. The first two thirds of the course, flat and slender along the quays of Gardon, favor Brunel, excellent roller. But the rise of the Hermitage benefits Cosnefroy, the puncher. "Perhaps the hardest part is yet to come," warned the Norman, winner of the Grand Prix La Marseillaise on Sunday. "Frankly, I do not have too much reference in time trial. But it was one of my areas of work this winter and I will approach the relaxed exercise".
© 2020 AFP