Gallopin wins Etoile de Besseges

Tony Gallopin claimed the overall title at Etoile de Besseges after he won the fifth and final stage, a time trial in Ales on Sunday. The Frenchman, in his first season with AG2R La Mondiale, won the time trial in 15:21, enough to move him into the top of the classification. Yoann Paillot (St.Michel-Auber 93) was second in the time trial and Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) was third.

The time trial proved to be the most decisive of the stages as it knocked overnight leader and double stage winner Marc Sarreau (FDJ) down into ninth overall. He finished 18th on the day. Strong time traillists further down in the classification were able to make the most of the 10km stage in Ales and move up in the final standings.

Gallopin started the stage in 15th overall but his winning performance in the time trial gave him the overall victory ahead of stage 2 winner Christophe Laporte (Cofidis), who was second at 15 seconds back. Paillot moved up from 31st into third, 20 seconds back, in the overall in the final standings.

This is the second race of the season for Gallopin, who made the move to AG2R La Mondiale this year, after spending four seasons with Lotto Soudal. He raced at the Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise in January where he placed ninth.

The first three stages finished in large group sprints. Always a strong time triallist, Gallopin trailed in the GC standings each day, just far enough back, 20 seconds, but still within reach of the overall title ahead of the time trial.

Full Results