Sander Helven (Topsport Vlaanderen) continues to surprise in the Etoile de Besseges as he managed to defend his lead in today's queen stage. Now the young Belgian only faces one final challenge, the 10.7km uphill time trial in Alés, and being unsure about what to expect, he just promises to give it his all.

When young Sander Helven took the leader's jersey after getting into the right breakaway on the first stage of the Etoile de Besseges, his rivals were a bit uncertain about what to expect from the new leader. After all, he had been hampered by illness in most of his first professional season and so very few knew exactly what he was capable of. Would he be able to handle the climbs in today's queen stage? And how will he perform in tomorrow's time trial?

Today the riders got the first of those answers when the young Belgian held firm on the Mur de Laudun that was climbed twice near the end of the penultimate stage. Crossing the line in 28th in the same time as stage winner Bryan Coquard (Europcar), he still holds a 5-second lead over Benoit Jarrier (Bretagne).

The first of the pre-race favourites, Arthur Vichot (FDJ), is 26 seconds behind, Tony Gallopin (Lotto Belisol) is 4 seconds further adrift while most of the big time trialists are 34 seconds behind. Helven now only needs to defend himself in tomorrow's 10.7km uphill time trial in Alés and he is very unsure about what to expect.

"The last climb was very difficult," he told Directvelo. "I was still in between 10th and 15th position in the bunch. I managed to hold on in the last 200 metres but I was completely cooked at the end.

"Tomorrow, it will be my fourth day with the leader's jersey. I have an advantage ahead of the time trial. I will give everything. We will see what happens."

Helven took the lead by winning the first stage from a breakaway which was his first win in his professional career.