Alexys Brunel (Groupama-FDJ) powered to the first pro victory of his career on the first stage of the Étoile de Bessèges.
The Frenchman hit the line one second ahead of Benoît Cosnefroy with Edward Planckaert in third, three seconds back.
Brunel takes a three-second GC lead into Thursday’s second of five stages in the French race.
Le jeune Alexys Brunel remporte la première étape de l'@Etoile_Besseges ! ?#lequipeVELO pic.twitter.com/lL6D524Hfr
— la chaine L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) February 5, 2020
Etoile de Bessèges 2020 – stage 1 results (Bellegarde – Bellegarde):
| 1 | Alexys Brunel (Groupama-FDJ) | 3:20:43 |
| 2 | Benoit Cosnefroy (AGR La Mondiale) | +01” |
| 3 | Edward Planckaert (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) | +03” |
| 4 | Alex Kirsch (Trek-Segafredo) | +05” |
| 5 | Scott Thwaites (Alpecin-Fenix) | +08” |
| 6 | Kévin Geniets (Groupama-FDJ) | ,, |
| 7 | Gijs Van Hoecke (CCC) | ,, |
| 8 | Lilian Calmejane (Total Direct Energie) | ,, |
| 9 | Arthur Vichot (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept0 | ,, |
| 10 | Flavien Maurelet (St Michel-Auber) | +13” |
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