February's southern French stage race that opens the European season
Etoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard
The Etoile de Bessèges opens the European stage-racing calendar in the Gard department, where early-season form meets varied terrain across five February days.
- Location
- 🇫🇷 France
- When
- Early February
- Course
- Stage Race
- Most recent winner
- 🇫🇷 Ewen Costiou (2026)
- Also known as
- Etoile de Besseges
- Category
- Men’s Continental
About Etoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard
The Etoile de Bessèges, also known as the Tour du Gard, is a five-day men's cycling stage race held each February in southern France. It runs through the Gard department north of Montpellier, offering one of the first stage-race tests of the European season.
Also known as: Etoile de Besseges
Kévin Vauquelin and Mads Pedersen are among the recent winners who have used Bessèges as a springboard.
This is where the European season begins in earnest. The race offers varied terrain across five days in the Gard, mixing punchy climbs, time trials, and sprint stages that reward different skillsets. It attracts a mix of French continental teams and WorldTour squads using it as an early-season proving ground, which creates unpredictable racing when form is still uneven and ambition runs ahead of condition.
Etoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 🇫🇷Ewen Costiou |
| 2025 | 🇫🇷Kevin Vauquelin |
| 2024 | 🇩🇰Mads Pedersen |
| 2023 | 🇺🇸Neilson Powless |
| 2022 | 🇫🇷Benjamin Thomas |
| 2021 | 🇧🇪Tim Wellens |
| 2020 | 🇫🇷Benoit Cosnefroy |
2026 results
This edition is complete.
Etoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard route
The race typically includes a short opening time trial, several stages with punchy climbs in the garrigue hills north of Nîmes, and at least one sprint opportunity. The GC is usually decided by a combination of time-trial seconds and selective climbing stages rather than one dominant mountain test. Crosswinds can also split the race on exposed valley roads. The winner needs to handle short, steep efforts and limit losses against the clock, but pure climbers and pure sprinters rarely control the overall. Expect all-rounders who can gain time in multiple ways and for breakaways to succeed when the peloton is still finding its rhythm in February.
What shapes the race
Race type
Five-day stage race in southern France opening the European season each February. The first stage race of the year for many riders.
Mixed terrain
Sprint stages in the Gard lowlands, punchy finishes in the garrigue hills, and a closing time trial create a complete early-season test.
Typical winner
A versatile all-rounder who can time trial and climb. The short format means every stage carries weight.
Signature landmarks
The Gard department in southern France, between the Cevennes and the Mediterranean.
- Stage type
Closing time trial
The final-stage time trial is the signature feature, often deciding the overall classification on the last day.
- Terrain
Garrigue hills
The scrubby limestone hills of the Gard provide short, punchy climbs that separate contenders.
History
Memorable editions
- 2023
Powless wins from the front
Neilson Powless used aggressive racing in the hills to build a lead, then defended it in the time trial.
- 2025
Vauquelin builds momentum
Kevin Vauquelin won the overall to continue his emergence as a French stage-race talent.
Iconic victories
Tim Wellens
Won in 2021, showing the race rewards the same attacking, time-trial-strong profile he used to win the Renewi Tour.
Mads Pedersen
Won in 2024, using his all-round strength to control the short stages.
Kevin Vauquelin
Won in 2025, representing the next generation of French stage-race talent.
Eras and records
The traditional European season opener, running since 1971 in the south of France.
First edition
The race has been held since 1971, one of the first events on the European calendar each year.
Season opener status
Consistently the first multi-day race in Europe, setting the tone for the season ahead.