Coventry’s Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) was surrounded by legends of the sport as he raced to 7th on the stage and 6th on overall (leading young rider)
Étoile de Bessège Stage 3- 7th for Jake Stewart
The third stage of the Etoile de Bessèges, the most difficult stage on paper, delivered an exciting battle before being won by a solo Tim Wellens. The Lotto-Soudal rider attacked the break on a winding descent and established a small gap putting 37 seconds into a group with names such as Edward Theuns, Mads Würtz, Greg Van Avermaet, Philippe Gilbert, Cyril Barthe and our own Jake Stewart. Others in that rather tasty selection included Michal Kwiatkowski andNils Politt.
With 80km to go, a sizeable break of 20 with some big names in there establishing a two-and-a-half-minute advantage. The names included Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R-Citroën), Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), Tim Wellens and Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal), Egan Bernal and Michał Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers), and Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) as well as Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ).
Jake’s team says it was very nice having two riders in the front group, including Jake of course. Since most of the stage difficulties were in the first part of the race, the major attacks started very early. “We knew that the race would be animated quickly” maintained FDJ’s Thierry Bricaud. “Ultimately, it was at the top of the Col des Brousses that the stage took shape.”
“The start was very tough because a lot of teams didn’t want a sprint today,” added Jake “The first 50 kilometers were at full throttle and the breakaway formed after the second big climb. I managed to take the wheels to the top and we pulled away. I didn’t have much left in my legs. For the final, I just wanted to save my energy to be able to stay with the best,” explained Jake.”
“The last climb was pretty steep and when Wellens attacked I couldn’t keep up. I just tried to hold the wheels and stay as cool as possible in case it all comes together for a sprint”. The young British rider retained his position in the chase group behind Wellens and focused on the battle for second place. “I stuck to the barriers too much in the sprint, and after such a difficult day, I didn’t have much left anyway,” commented Jake.
“Jake had taken the option of following Van Avermaet, and it was a good option except that the latter was not so good and Jake was slowed down a bit” added Thierry.
Stage 3
1. Tim Wellens
2. Edward Theuns
3. Mads Würtz Schmidt
4. Greg Van Avermaet
5. Philippe Gilbert
6. Cyril Barthe
7. Jake Stewart
8. Nils Politt
9. Michael Gogl
10. Michal Kwiatkowski
54. Connor Swift
64. Owain Doull
72. Geraint Thomas
106. Ryan Mullen
111. Dan Mclay
112. Chris Lawless
115. Ethan Hayter
Overall
1 Tim Wellens
2 Edward Theuns
3 Mads Würtz Schmidt
4 Michal Kwiatkowski
5 Philippe Gilbert
6 Jake Stewart
7 Greg Van Avermaet
8 Michael Gogl
9 Cyril Barthe
10 Stefano Oldani
Overall: Jake Stewart best young rider
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- CX Result: Scottish CX Champs (Irvine)
- CX Result: Cyclocross Jersey Round 4
- CX Result: South West Cyclocross League Round 8
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #9
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Round 11
- CX Result: Western Cyclo Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League
- CX Result: Yorkshire CX League Round 6
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 10
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 8
- CX Result: Eastern Region Regional Championships
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #8
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- CX Result: South East Regional CX Champs
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross Champs
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League Round 10
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 7
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Southern Regional Champs
- CX Result: CXNE North of England Championships
- CX Result: Notts & Derby East Midlands Championships
- Team Update: Brother UK / Onform 2025
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Round 10
- Casa Guadalest: The Ultimate Holiday Rental
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League Wk 16
- 2024 UCI TRACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1
- CX Result: East Kent Cyclo Cross League Rd 3
- 2025 NATIONAL TRACK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series 7
- CHS CICLISMO – Complimentary daily massage and spa!
- CX Result: NWCCA Round 8 (Cheshire)
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CycloCross Rd 8
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League Round 9.5
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #6
- Crit Result: Somer Valley Circuit Races
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Rd 6
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design 2025
- National Trophy Round 3 (Torbay): Day 2
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League Week 15
Other News on VeloUK
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- Team Update: Brother UK / Onform 2025
- 2025 NATIONAL TRACK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
- CHS CICLISMO – Complimentary daily massage and spa!
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design 2025
- National Trophy Cyclocross: Round 3 (Torbay)
- Tofauti Everyone Active announces new partners and new name for 2025
- Rider News: Matt Thompson signs for French Team BMC Bezier
- News: Youth Tour of Scotland 2025
- FEATURE: Billy Ladle’s Stellar Season Recognised at British Cycling Awards
- 2025 Prologue Junior Race Team
- STARTLIST: BUCS Hill Climb Championships
- News: West Midlands Road Race League Winner 2024
- Tofauti Everyone Active reveals its roster for 2025
- This weekend: National Trophy Cyclocross 2
- Team News: INEOS Announce Structure/Staff Changes
- STARTLIST: RTTC National Hill Climb Championships
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch (October)
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- Rider News: Ben Marsh off to France to race
- Report/Result: World Gravel Championships
- This Weekend (Oct 5/6): National Trophy Cyclocross Round 1
- IOM 2024 YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL OVERALL
- Holiday Rentals: Escape to Casa Guadalest (Spain)
- Sponsor News: Custom Clothing from Santini
- News: Ribble launches the Allroad Ti – Crafted for More
- NEWS: The Pedal Club Lunch — September with Jez Cox
- Ultimate Cycling Experience at CHS Ciclismo
- Worlds: Great Britain Riders for 2024 Road Worlds
- Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses
- EVENTS: Portmore Classic (29th of September, Dorset)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales