ProTeam Milan Menten sprints to second place at Etoile de Bessèges

In the third hilly stage of the Etoile de Bessèges, an early breakaway escaped on the Col des Brousses, after which the peloton controlled the breakaway. The riders had to climb the Col des Brousses three times, as well as two other climbs of first and second category.

The escapees were given a maximum lead of five minutes and were caught just before the final climb. On the climb it was still raining attacks, a group with Brent Van Moer and Jenno Berckmoes had a slight advantage at the top. In the descent also Milan Menten rejoined the front group together with Alec Segaert and Sébastien Grignard. The preparations for a bunch sprint were in the making, despite a late attack from Marco Brenner.

Milan Menten was in the wheel of Mads Pedersen, who started the sprint and could keep the first spot until the finish line. Menten sprinted to his first podium place of this season. A boost after a crash last week in La Marseillaise.

"I still felt the consequences of the crash last week. Yesterday and today were two tough days, even today I thought for a moment that it was going to be difficult to reach the finish", says Menten. "But my parents were here and they gave me an extra boost, and in the end all the pieces came together. At the top of the last climb I was about 100m behind the first group, where we had Jenno and Brent. In the descent I was able to come back and the team told me that I could go for the sprint. I didn't feel great in the sprint, due to the crash last week, but I knew from the training camp that my condition is there. I'm happy that I was able to hold on today and that I could sprint, after the first canceled stage where I had my eyes on. It shows that sometimes you also have to be mentally strong."

Picture: PhotoNews