Etoile de Bessèges: Kubiš Extends GC Lead After Time Trial

4.

7.2.

St-Christol-Alès > Vauvert

162 km

Heremans

The fourth day of the Etoile de Bességes meant a complete flat for the peloton, i.e. a rest to the guns in the overall order. At least they wanted to see it in Unibet, who had to drag the entire stage. Fortunately, the organizers planned only 162 kilometers today. The other teams also helped them, when they did not intend to fight more fundamentally and only three competitors from weaker teams escaped – Valentin Retailleau (TotalEnergies), Tommaso Bessega (Polti) a Clement Davy (Nice).

Deciding at Unibet how to direct the results was also challenging. Under normal circumstances, he would be their clear leader for the spurt Dylan Groenewegen. However, he did not figure high in the overall ranking and was the leader of the race Lukas Kubišwho needed every second before the final short time trial… And to make matters worse, the final five hundred meters went up a five percent incline, which suited Kubiš rather well, but was not a huge problem for the experienced Dutch sprinter. Of course, Unibet needed to keep the tactics to themselves, so few knew in advance how they would come up with it. Either Lukáš will start it for Dylan, or his colleagues will handle it with Lukáš having a free hand, or they will play the whole thing on Lukáš. They were helped by two passes over the finish line in the final half hour of the race.

It is interesting that for Today was Lukáš’s first stage in the race leader’s jersey since he joined Unibet. Before that, he had only experienced it in Dukla and Elkovo, and only for one day each time. The stage developed calmly, without major problems. That played into his cards. He somehow helped Unibet with the pace Alpecin-Deceuninckwho often tries to direct in lower races. Today they went again With Henriho Uhlyesterday’s winner.

The escape still had a half-minute lead ten kilometers before the finish line, but Unibet let the other teams do it and retreated a little so as not to lose all their strength. The escape was caught only at the foot of the finishing hill 500 meters before the finish line and there Unibet took over with the clear aim of winning the stage. In the end, it turned out that the conclusion was not for the sprinters at all. It was all kinds of combative with attacks as in the classic uphill finish, and the Belgian competitor crossed the finish line first Joppe Heremans from Van Rysel Roubaix. The second was Paul Lapeira from Decathlon and third Lukas Kubiš. There were minor differences between the competitors, but the judges let it be and gave everyone a winner’s time. Finally, there was a change, and after a detailed study of the target photo, second place was awarded to Kubiš.

For the 22-year-old Belgian, it is a lifetime triumph, for which he was obviously preparing. He was out of line. The third Lapeira yes. He was eleventh before the stage, so he moved up to fifth position. He remained in second place behind the Slovak champion with a gap of 13 seconds Henri Uhlig from Alpecin. Thanks to bonuses, Lukáš managed to slightly increase his lead over unpredictable opponents before the short uphill time trial at its end. So Sunday will be very interesting. Never in his career has Lukáš worn the leader’s jersey for two days, and he has never entered a time trial as the last, biggest favorite. Attention will be focused on him. How will he manage it? We will be very curious.