Another blow in Bessèges: After Van Gils' DNF, defending champion Pedersen also abandons the race

Lidl-Trek reports the abandonment of its leader on its social channels. "Following his gastro-intestinal trouble on Stage 1, Mads will not take to the start of today's stage 3 of Etoile de Bességes," they posted. "He will instead travel home to recover and prepare for next week's Tour de La Provence." So last year's number one was no longer at the start in the south of France. Ryan Gibbons and Alex Kirsch will now handle the sprints.

Last year, the former world champion was in great shape at the beginning of the season. He won the third stage and rode every other stage in the top ten. With an excellent second place in the final time trial, he could defend his first position. This year, he will not prolong his title. It already went wrong in stage one: he lost almost two minutes. "One of those shitty days yesterday…. Let's hope stage 2 here in Star of Bessèges will treat me better," he posted on Instagram afterward. But that was not the case, leaving him with no choice but to abandon the race.

Last year, Pedersen showed his form early in the season with the overall win in Bessèges, but in the Tour de la Provence, it was a week later. He won three of the four stages and logically won the GC. On February 14, he will be at the start there again this year, so he may already be able to take revenge.

Pedersen is not the only top rider who did not start the third stage. Maxim Van Gils was unable to finish the third stage after a crash caused by a car on the course. In the finale, the car drove onto the road and had to reverse. The riders could avoid the car, but the accordion effect caused a big crash. Van Gils fell into a ditch and had to go to the hospital for check-ups.