# 2021 Étoile de Bessèges

The 2021 Étoile de Bessèges (transl. Star of Bessèges) was a road cycling stage race that took place between 3 and 7 February 2021 mostly in the French department of Gard. The race was rated as a 2.1 event as part of the 2021 UCI Europe Tour, and was the 51st edition of the Étoile de Bessèges cycling race.

## Teams

Twenty-two teams were invited to the race. The invited teams include eleven UCI WorldTeams, eight UCI ProTeams, and three UCI Continental teams. Each team entered seven riders, except for Cambodia Cycling Academy, which entered five. Before the race began, Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise withdrew after one of the team's management was suspected of having COVID-19. Of the 145 riders that started the race, 135 finished.
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R Citroën Team
* Bora–Hansgrohe
* Cofidis
* EF Education–Nippo
* Groupama–FDJ
* Ineos Grenadiers
* Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux
* Israel Start-Up Nation
* Lotto–Soudal
* Team Qhubeka Assos
* Trek–Segafredo
UCI ProTeams
* Alpecin–Fenix
* Arkéa–Samsic
* B&B Hotels p/b KTM
* Bingoal WB
* Delko
* Equipo Kern Pharma
* Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise
* Total Direct Énergie
UCI Continental Teams
* Cambodia Cycling Academy
* St. Michel–Auber93
* Xelliss–Roubaix–Lille Métropole

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Stage winner |
| 1 | 3 February | Bellegarde to Bellegarde | 143.55 km (89.20 mi) | | Hilly stage | Christophe Laporte (FRA) |
| 2 | 4 February | Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès to La Calmette | 154.12 km (95.77 mi) | | Hilly stage | Timothy Dupont (BEL) |
| 3 | 5 February | Bessèges to Bessèges | 154.81 km (96.19 mi) | | Hilly stage | Tim Wellens (BEL) |
| 4 | 6 February | Rousson to Saint-Siffret | 151.60 km (94.20 mi) | | Hilly stage | Filippo Ganna (ITA) |
| 5 | 7 February | Alès to Alès | 10.71 km (6.65 mi) | | Individual time trial | Filippo Ganna (ITA) |
| Total | Total | 614.79 km (382.01 mi) | 614.79 km (382.01 mi) | 614.79 km (382.01 mi) | 614.79 km (382.01 mi) | 614.79 km (382.01 mi) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 3 February 2021 – Bellegarde to Bellegarde, 143.55 km (89.20 mi)

Stage 1 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | 3h 14' 32" |
| 2 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 0" |
| 3 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 2" |
| 4 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 2" |
| 5 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 2" |
| 6 | Jordi Meeus (BEL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 2" |
| 7 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 2" |
| 8 | John Degenkolb (GER) | Lotto–Soudal | + 2" |
| 9 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 2" |
| 10 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 2" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | 3h 14' 22" |
| 2 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 4" |
| 3 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 8" |
| 4 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 12" |
| 5 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 12" |
| 6 | Jordi Meeus (BEL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 12" |
| 7 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 12" |
| 8 | John Degenkolb (GER) | Lotto–Soudal | + 12" |
| 9 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 12" |
| 10 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 12" |

### Stage 2
#### 4 February 2021 – Saint-Geniès-de-Malgoirès to La Calmette, 154.12 km (95.77 mi)

Stage 2 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Timothy Dupont (BEL) | Bingoal WB | 3h 35' 15" |
| 2 | Pierre Barbier (FRA) | Delko | + 0" |
| 3 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 0" |
| 4 | Rudy Barbier (FRA) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 0" |
| 5 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 6 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 0" |
| 7 | Marc Sarreau (FRA) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 0" |
| 8 | Gerben Thijssen (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 0" |
| 9 | Silvan Dillier (SUI) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 0" |
| 10 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | 6h 49' 37" |
| 2 | Timothy Dupont (BEL) | Bingoal WB | + 2" |
| 3 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 4" |
| 4 | Pierre Barbier (FRA) | Delko | + 6" |
| 5 | Ludovic Robeet (BEL) | Bingoal WB | + 7" |
| 6 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 8" |
| 7 | Mads Pedersen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 8" |
| 8 | Tony Hurel (FRA) | St. Michel–Auber93 | + 9" |
| 9 | Alexandre Delettre (FRA) | Delko | + 11" |
| 10 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 12" |

### Stage 3
#### 5 February 2021 – Bessèges to Bessèges, 154.81 km (96.19 mi)

Stage 3 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 3h 28' 02" |
| 2 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 37" |
| 3 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 37" |
| 4 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 37" |
| 5 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 37" |
| 6 | Cyril Barthe (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 37" |
| 7 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 37" |
| 8 | Nils Politt (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 37" |
| 9 | Michael Gogl (AUT) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 37" |
| 10 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 37" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 10h 17' 38" |
| 2 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 44" |
| 3 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 46" |
| 4 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 48" |
| 5 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 49" |
| 6 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 50" |
| 7 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 50" |
| 8 | Michael Gogl (AUT) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 50" |
| 9 | Cyril Barthe (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 50" |
| 10 | Stefano Oldani (ITA) | Lotto–Soudal | + 50" |

### Stage 4
#### 6 February 2021 – Rousson to Saint-Siffret, 151.60 km (94.20 mi)

Stage 4 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Filippo Ganna (ITA) | Ineos Grenadiers | 3h 22' 59" |
| 2 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 17" |
| 3 | Pascal Ackermann (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 17" |
| 4 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 17" |
| 5 | Milan Menten (BEL) | Bingoal WB | + 17" |
| 6 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 17" |
| 7 | Cyril Barthe (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 17" |
| 8 | Nils Politt (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 17" |
| 9 | August Jensen (NOR) | Delko | + 17" |
| 10 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 17" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 13h 40' 54" |
| 2 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 44" |
| 3 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 46" |
| 4 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 48" |
| 5 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 49" |
| 6 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 50" |
| 7 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 50" |
| 8 | Nils Politt (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 50" |
| 9 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 50" |
| 10 | Michael Gogl (AUT) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 58" |

### Stage 5
#### 7 February 2021 – Alès to Alès, 10.71 km (6.65 mi), (ITT)

Stage 5 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Filippo Ganna (ITA) | Ineos Grenadiers | 15' 00" |
| 2 | Benjamin Thomas (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 10" |
| 3 | Ethan Hayter (GBR) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 21" |
| 4 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 29" |
| 5 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | + 31" |
| 6 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 34" |
| 7 | Alberto Bettiol (ITA) | EF Education–Nippo | + 35" |
| 8 | Owain Doull (GBR) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 38" |
| 9 | Nils Politt (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 38" |
| 10 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 42" |
General classification after Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 13h 56' 23" |
| 2 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 53" |
| 3 | Nils Politt (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 59" |
| 4 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 02" |
| 5 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 1' 19" |
| 6 | Michael Gogl (AUT) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 1' 24" |
| 7 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 1' 25" |
| 8 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 36" |
| 9 | Clément Carisey (FRA) | Delko | + 1' 41" |
| 10 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 1' 45" |

## Classification leadership table

Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Youth classification | Team classification |
| 1 | Christophe Laporte | Christophe Laporte | Christophe Laporte | Alexandre Delettre | Jordi Meeus | Arkéa–Samsic |
| 2 | Timothy Dupont | Christophe Laporte | Christophe Laporte | Alexandre Delettre | Jake Stewart | Arkéa–Samsic |
| 3 | Tim Wellens | Tim Wellens | Christophe Laporte | Alexandre Delettre | Jake Stewart | Lotto–Soudal |
| 4 | Filippo Ganna | Tim Wellens | Christophe Laporte | Alexandre Delettre | Jake Stewart | Lotto–Soudal |
| 5 | Filippo Ganna | Tim Wellens | Christophe Laporte | Alexandre Delettre | Jake Stewart | Lotto–Soudal |
| Final | Final | Tim Wellens | Christophe Laporte | Alexandre Delettre | Jake Stewart | Lotto–Soudal |

## Final classification standings

Legend :
| Denotes the winner of the general classification | Denotes the winner of the mountains classification |
| Denotes the winner of the points classification | Denotes the winner of the young rider classification |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 13h 56' 23" |
| 2 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 53" |
| 3 | Nils Politt (GER) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 59" |
| 4 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 02" |
| 5 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 1' 19" |
| 6 | Michael Gogl (AUT) | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 1' 24" |
| 7 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 1' 25" |
| 8 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 36" |
| 9 | Clément Carisey (FRA) | Delko | + 1' 41" |
| 10 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 1' 45" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Christophe Laporte (FRA) | Cofidis | 69 |
| 2 | Filippo Ganna (ITA) | Ineos Grenadiers | 56 |
| 3 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 49 |
| 4 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | 32 |
| 5 | Edward Theuns (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | 31 |
| 6 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Team Qhubeka Assos | 31 |
| 7 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | 30 |
| 8 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | AG2R Citroën Team | 29 |
| 9 | Timothy Dupont (BEL) | Bingoal WB | 25 |
| 10 | Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 24 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Alexandre Delettre (FRA) | Delko | 28 |
| 2 | Ludovic Robeet (BEL) | Bingoal WB | 18 |
| 3 | Tim Wellens (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 14 |
| 4 | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) | Ineos Grenadiers | 10 |
| 5 | Ethan Hayter (GBR) | Ineos Grenadiers | 10 |
| 6 | Filippo Ganna (ITA) | Ineos Grenadiers | 10 |
| 7 | Alexys Brunel (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | 8 |
| 8 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | EF Education–Nippo | 8 |
| 9 | Anthony Perez (FRA) | Cofidis | 8 |
| 10 | Vojtěch Řepa (CZE) | Equipo Kern Pharma | 8 |

### Young rider classification

Final young rider classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jake Stewart (GBR) | Groupama–FDJ | 13h 57' 25" |
| 2 | Stefano Oldani (ITA) | Lotto–Soudal | + 1' 26" |
| 3 | Roger Adrià (ESP) | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 2' 46" |
| 4 | Alexys Brunel (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 3' 09" |
| 5 | Raúl García (ESP) | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 3' 43" |
| 6 | Tobias Bayer (AUT) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 4' 02" |
| 7 | Brent Van Moer (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 4' 43" |
| 8 | Andreas Kron (DEN) | Lotto–Soudal | + 4' 53" |
| 9 | Matis Louvel (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 5' 43" |
| 10 | Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (DEN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 10' 39" |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Lotto–Soudal | 41h 53' 02" |
| 2 | Ineos Grenadiers | + 57" |
| 3 | Groupama–FDJ | + 4' 41" |
| 4 | Equipo Kern Pharma | + 5' 45" |
| 5 | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 5' 56" |
| 6 | Trek–Segafredo | + 6' 16" |
| 7 | AG2R Citroën Team | + 6' 34" |
| 8 | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 6' 45" |
| 9 | Team Qhubeka Assos | + 6' 49" |
| 10 | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 6' 55" |