Etoile de Bessèges (2012) Photos Feburary 1 - 5

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Stijn Devolder (Vacansoleil) watching his step after signing in at the start in Beaucaire on a clear but chilly morning	The rollout from Beaucaire in southern France	Beaucaire start panoramic as the peloton leaves for Bellegarde on this 148 km stage
Lots of attacks in the gusty winds
There was only one categorized climb on the day, the cat 2 Cote de la Tour, 50 km into the stage and 100 km from the finish	Frank Vermeulen (Veranda Rideau) on Cote de la Tour	Julien El Fares (Team Type 1 - Sanofi) at the front of the peloton
The five (7.8 km) laps in Bellegarde setup a sprint finish won by Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-BigMat)	It looks like Marcel Kittel (Project 1t4i, right), who led out the sprint, placed 2nd. Some results have him 4th behind Bobbie Traksel (Landbouwkrediet) and Jempy Drucker (Accent Jobs–Willems Veranda’s), but that's clearly not the case. Full Stage 1 Results	The 21 year old Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-BigMat) celebrates his biggest win to date as he begins his third year as a pro
Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-BigMat) looks like a kid	Winning the opening stage gives the 21 year old Frenchman, Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-BigMat), the first race leader's jersey

Stage 2:  Nîmes - Saint-Ambroix 149km 58 km  Full Results and Report

"Winter weather conditions" shortened stage 2 down to just 58 km; the peloton casually arriving in Saint-Ambroix for five laps of a 7.3km finishing circuit	A rider protest prompted the shortened stage however, none of the photos seen show any rain or snow. This morning's race leader Nacer Bouhanni nestled amidst his FDJ-BigMat teammates	Neither "poor weather" nor bad media news could deny Marcel Kittel (Project 1T4i) his first win of the year
Marcel Kittel (Project 1T4i) wasn't willing to celebrate...	... until he got on the podium	Your stage 2 winner Marcel Kittel (Project 1T4i) in what could be a common scene this year
Marcel Kittel (Project 1T4i): happy to gain the race lead and one extra layer of clothing

Stage 3:  Grand Prix de Bessèges 152 km  Full Results and Report

A gorgeous winter's morning for a 158 km romp around Bessèges	Right from the start, the peloton on their first of three times up the 415 m (265 m gain) Col de Treylis	Race leader Marcel Kittel (Team 1t4i) was dropped early on
Cofidis at the front the second time around on Col de Treylis	Pierre Roland (Europcar) was third man here. We'll see him again later.	Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ - Big Mat) was able to stay in contact with the peloton and regained his race leader's jersey at the end of the stage by winning the field sprint for third
The main break on the final of three times up Col de Treylis led by Rémi Cusin (Team Type 1-Sanofi) along with David Le Lay (Saur-Sojasun), Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Guillaume Bonnafond (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Franck Vermeulen (Véranda Rideau-Super U). Yohan Cauquil (La Pomme Marseille), Dimitri Champion (Bretagne-Schuller) and Jonathan Thiré (Auber 93) were part of this group but were dropped by this point.	The main break basking in the sun	The break had whittled down to just Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and Franck Vermeulen (Véranda Rideau-Super U) near the finish in Besseges
Pierre Rolland (Europcar) wins stage 3 with the peloton bearing down them at the finish	Tucked in behind was Franck Vermeulen (Véranda Rideau-Super U) for second	Not quite as thrilling as winning a Tour de France stage, but a fine win nonetheless
Franck Vermeulen (Véranda Rideau-Super U) finally poking his head out around the victory salute	Pierre Rolland (Europcar) with his first win since winning the Queen Stage of the Tour de France at Alpe d'Huez last summer	Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ - Big Mat) won the field sprint for third and regains the race leader's jersey

Stage 4:  Bagnols-suer-Cèze circuits 150 km 68 km  Full Results and Report

A clear but...	.. another cold day in southern France	Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis Le Crédit en Ligne) bundled up and ready for stage 4 which was shortened to 68 km (3 circuits around Bagnols-suer-Cèze). He finished 15th today.
Eager to get this freezing stage started (and finished). Yesterday's stage 4 winner, Pierre Rolland (Europcar), and the overall leader, Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ - Big Mat).	Bobbie Traksel (Landbouwkrediet) likes this kind of weather, but his solo move with 10 km to go was unsuccessful	The sub-freezing, slight uphill finish for shortened stage 4 in Bagnols-sur-Cèze was won by Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM)
Nicko Eeckhout (An Post-Sean Kelly) and obscured Julien El Fares (Team Type 1 – Sanofi) were 2nd and 3rd	Second on stage 1, but first today	Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM) dressed appropriately for his podium appearance
... however, new overall leader Pierre Rolland (Europcar) was clearly underdressed	Your frozen race leader, Pierre Rolland (Europcar), will take a 6s lead into the final stage

Stage 5:  Ales, 5a: 82 km, 5b: 9.7 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Stage 4 winner, Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM), prior to another sub-freezing start in southern France	Remy Di Gregorio (Cofidis) actually looks cozy prior to the stage 5a start in Ales	Race leader Pierre Rolland (Europcar) attempting to stay warm
Finish panoramic with France's Stephane Poulhies (Saur - Sojasun) well in the lead	Double victory salute with teammate Jimmy Engoulvent while Justin Jules (Véranda Rideau U) crosses second	Stéphane Poulhiès (Saur-Sojasun) also won last year's Étoile de Bessèges stage into Ales
Stage 5a winner, Stephane Poulhies (Saur - Sojasun)		Pierre Rolland (Europcar) retains the race lead by 6s before the 9.7 km Stage 5b individual team trial in the afternoon which will decide it all
Stage 5b: After a week of racing in frigid temperatures, 2012 Etoile de Bessèges came down to a final day 9.7 km individual time trial after this morning's 5a stage	Jérôme Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) was easily the best time-trialer in the event	Jérôme Coppel's (Saur-Sojasun) winning time was 26s faster than the next rider which is a healthy winning margin for a 9.7 km TT
Estonian TT champ Rein Taaramae (Cofidis Le Crédit en Ligne) was 2nd + 26s	3rd Maxime Bouet (AG2R La Mondiale) + 32s	This isn't Pierre Rolland, it's his Europcar teammate Sébastien Chavanel who preferred to stay warm than aero. He finished dead last + 4:11. Meanwhille, Pierre Rolland placed 10th + 48s and slipped off the podium.
Jérôme Coppel (Saur - Sojasun), the Stage 5b ITT winner and overall winner (by 25s) with a fine trophy	Too often the TT stage winner is the overall winner for one week stage races. It makes the other stages seem trivial.	Your 2012 overall podium: 2nd today/3rd overall Rein Taaramae (Cofidis Le Crédit en Ligne), 1st today/1st overall Jérôme Coppel (Saur - Sojasun), 6th today/2nd overall Franck Vermeulen (Veranda Rideau U)