French rider Jonathan Hivert took overall victory in Etoile de Bessèges while Anthony Roux won the last stage.

The 9.7 km ITT in the streets of Alès marked the end of this year’s Etoile de Bessèges.

Before the start of the ITT Jerôme Cousin (Team Europcar), not exactly known for his abilities as a time trialist, enjoyed a 3 seconds lead over Jonathan Hivert (Sojasun).

For a long time 29-year-old Jérémy Roy (FDJ) seemed to have clinched the ITT but in the end he was beaten by 3 seconds by compatriot and teammate Anthony Roux. Dutch rider Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM), winner of the Tour of Denmark last year, took third place 23 seconds down on Roux.

In fact Cousin performed well in the ITT finishing 12th but Hivert finished 9th, erasing his time deficit in the process.

Hivert thus triumphed in Etoile de Bessèges by a slim 4 seconds margin ahead of Cousin with Roux finishing third a further second adrift. For Sojasun this is the second successive triumph in Etoile de Bessèges. Last year the event was won by Jérôme Coppel who now rides for Cofidis.

6th stage results:
1 Anthony Roux – FDJ 14.45
2 Jérémy Roy – FDJ 0.03
3 Liuwe Westra – Vacansoleil-DCM 0.23
4 Arthur Vichot – FDJ 0.28
5 Pierrick Fedrigo – FDJ 0.30
6 Tobias Ludvigsson – Team Argos-Shimano 0.33
7 Frederik Veuchelen – Vacansoleil-DCM 0.35
8 Domenico Pozzovivo – AG2R La Mondiale 0.35
9 Jonathan Hivert – Sojasun 0.37
10 Cyril Gautier – Team Europcar 0.39
11 Sebastien Delfosse – Crelan-Euphony 0.41
12 Jérôme Cousin – Team Europcar 0.44
13 Damien Gaudin – Team Europcar 0.46
14 Maxime Vantomme – Crelan-Euphony 0.47
15 Romain Bardet – AG2R La Mondiale 0.48

General Classification
1 Jonathan Hivert – Sojasun
2 Jérôme Cousin – Team Europcar 0.04
3 Anthony Roux – FDJ 0.05
4 Cyril Gautier – Team Europcar 0.11
5 Romain Bardet – AG2R La Mondiale 0.20
6 Lieuwe Westra – Vacansoleil-DCM 0.21
7 Arthur Vichot – FDJ 0.25