A time trial of almost twelve kilometres, with start and finish in Alès, was the last stage of the Etoile de Bessèges. Tony Gallopin set the second best time. He finished at nineteen seconds of stage winner Bob Jungels. With this result, Jungels moved up to the top of the GC, also followed by Gallopin, at nine seconds. Lotto Soudal has four riders in the top ten of the overall classification. Kris Boeckmans finished on the third place, at ten seconds. Maxime Monfort got eighth and Pim Ligthart tenth. The team won two stages in Bessèges. Kris Boeckmans was the fastest in the first stage and yesterday Tony Gallopin sprinted to the victory.

 “I started the time trial aiming for the overall win, although I knew it would be hard," Gallopin said. "The first nine kilometres were flat, then it got steeper. Those final kilometres were an advantage. There was much wind again, it has been a factor the whole week. I’m slightly disappointed that I finished on the second place, but Bob Jungels was really strong.

“I’m really glad with my stage win. The finish in Laudun really suited me. The final kilometre was uphill and it kept getting steeper. Five kilometres from the end the team took the lead and perfectly led me to the finish line. I just had to launch my sprint at the right moment. It was a victory of the entire team, everyone had his part in it.

“This definitely was a good start of the season. Pim Ligthart won the GP la Marseillaise last Sunday, Kris Boeckmans the first stage of the Etoile de Bessèges and I the fourth one. On top of that we end up in top ten with four riders. I’m satisfied after my first race days of the season. The first race is always special. Both the team and I have shown that the legs are good, that’s reassuring and makes us keen for the next races. The Tour of the Algarve will be my next race. I want to further work on my condition and be top in Paris-Nice.”