Pirmin Lang will not be taking the start this morning of the first stage of l’Etoile de Bessèges in southern France, which is scheduled to run from the 3rd to the 7th of February. The Swiss rider on the IAM Cycling team is suffering from sinusitis and will not be in a condition to give the best of himself during the race.

The sports management for IAM Cycling, along with the team doctors, will discuss at what date will Pirmin Lang be able to return to competition based on the evolution and improvement of his condition.

Jérome Coppel, Dries Devenyns, who won GP La Marseillaise, the first French race of the season, Sondre Holst Enger, Oliver Naesen, Matteo Pelucchi, Larry Warbasse and Jonathan Fumeaux will defend the colors of IAM at Etoile de Bessèges.

The race kicks off with the traditional 152km stage from Bellegarde to Beaucaire. It includes two passages of the category 2 Cote de la Tour which the riders will pass for the last time at the 98.2km mark. The stage ends with 4 laps of a 6.6km flat finishing circuit that has been used several times in the past. Importantly, there are bonus seconds on offer at the first passage of the line. Unless the wind wreaks havoc on the field, it will be a day for the sprinters.