In the presence of representatives of numerous municipalities and intermunicipalities of Gard as well as partners, the route of the 55th star of Bessèges was revealed. The town of Domessargues will be well highlighted since it will host the start of the second stage.
It is an unmissable event for all cycling lovers, the Étoile de Bessèges will be back in the saddle for a 55th edition with ever more surprises and kilometers to cover. From February 5 to 9, 2025, in five stages including a time trial, the future winner will enter his name after that of the Dane Mads Pedersen, who triumphed last year. Created in 1971 by Roland Fangille with a small team of volunteers, the Étoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard has seen great runners pass on the roads of our department. Among the French, we can cite Bernard Hinault (nicknamed the Badger), Laurent Fignon, Cyril Guimard, Richard Virenque, Bryan Coquard, Arnaud Démare and Sylvain Chavanel.
An event, one of the first on the cycling calendar, to which the late Raymond Poulidor was very attached. Claudine Fangille's father once said: “We held on because we believed in it and we were able to live our passion.” “I always heard about the Star at home. My father wanted to reach at least the 20th or 25th edition, today we are at the 55th”testifies with emotion his daughter, congratulating herself on the very good performance last year.
The general classification jersey has been revealed • Sacha Virga
A very important issue for the Gard department, represented today by Vincent Bouget, deputy vice-president for Sports. The Tour du Gard also allows many young school children to participate in a series of awareness-raising actions. The town of Domessargues will be the starting point, a real satisfaction for its first councilor Bernard Clément: “I am very happy and moved to have been able to make all of this a reality. If we hadn’t had what we wanted this year, we would have applied next year to get it”he exclaims with a smile.
In total, 140 runners divided into twenty teams will take the start, accompanied by 130 volunteers and 30,000 spectators along the roads. The Tour will be broadcast live on the L'Équipe channel, and will be broadcast in 205 countries to reach 3,700,000 viewers.
The Étoile de Bessèges 2025 will take place from February 5 to 9. • Photo : Yannick Pons.
The five steps in brief
Bellegarde en Costières Grand Prix: February 5, 2025 / 160 km / Bellegarde > Bellegarde
Canceled last year following the mobilization of farmers, the Bellegarde loop is kept at the top of the edition. The route will be identical to that of last year, with the only exception that Fourques will not be crossed, at the request of the mayor of the village. The runners will leave at 12:10 p.m. for a desired arrival of 4 p.m. for TV broadcasting reasons. The municipalities of Manduel, Redessan, Jonquières-Saint-Vincent, Montfrin, Aramon, Vallabrègues, Beaucaire, Bellegarde, Saint-Gilles, Les Iscles and Gallician are on the program for this first race.
Nîmes Métropole Grand Prix: February 6, 2025 / 165 km / Domessargues > Marguerittes
Representing the Nîmes intercommunity, Rémi Nicolas mayor of Marguerittes says he is very proud to see this beautiful territory presented on television. “I also announce that Nîmes métropole wishes to establish itself over the long term for the Étoile de Bessèges“. With why not the possibility one day of welcoming a stage finish… The municipalities of Domessargues, Aigremont, Montagnac, Fons-Outre-Gardon, La Calmette, Dions, Sainte-Anastasie, Bourdic, Garrigues, Sainte -Eulalie, Moussac, Brignon, Nozières, Blauzac, Sanilhac, Collias, Cabrières, Ledenon, Sernhac, Meynes, Redessan, Saint-Gervasy, Poulx and Marguerittes will be crossed.
Bessèges Grand Prix – CC Cèze Cévennes: February 7, 2025 / 164 km / Bessèges > Bessèges
For this third stage which will form a loop, the Tour du Gard will start from the north-east of the department, more precisely in Bessèges. Always a real pleasure for Ghislain Chassary, departmental councilor for the canton of Rousson: “All the ingredients are there for us to experience a superb stage. For information, 26 out of 28 municipalities will be crossed in this canton.” Bessèges, Le Buis, La Valette, Rochessadoule, Le Martinet, Saint-Florent-sur-Auzonnet, Les Brousses, Molières-sur-Cèze, Clet, Meyrannes, Plauzolles, La Croisée, Saint-Ambroix, Saint-Victor-de-Malcap , Saint-Denis, Saint-Jean-de-Maruéjols & Avéjan, Barjac, Méjannes-le-Clap, Rochegude, La Bégude, Allègre-les-Fumades, Saint-Julien-de-Cassagnas, les Mages, Saint-Jean-de -Valériscle, Clairac, Revêty, Foussignargues, Gagnières and Charbes will be on the program.
Grand Prix of the Gard Departmental Council – CC Pays d'Uzès: February 8, 2025 / 156.2 km / Vauvert > Uzès > Mont Bouquet
This is the penultimate stage and certainly the largest, since it will cross numerous intermunicipalities. Taking its source in Vauvert, it will end at Mont Bouquet and will therefore connect the south to the north. “We were languishing and we will do everything to make the party even more beautiful”comments Matthieu Testard, mayor of Brouzet-les-Alès. Jean Denat, mayor of Vauvert, assures us: “We love cycling here, it will be a very nice step, our municipal cycling association is already mobilized.” “Our support is also sentimental. The Étoile de Bessèges is a sporting heritage in Gard. As president of the Pays d’Uzès, I am very happy that we are supporting all of this”adds Fabrice Verdier. The municipalities of Vauvert, Aimargues, Gallargues-le-Montueux, Aubais, Congenies, Clarensac, Parignargues, Saint-Mamert, La Calmette, Dions, Sainte-Anastasie, Bourdic, Aureilhac, Arpaillargues, Uzès, Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie, Saint-Victor-des-Oules, Saint-Siffret, Saint-Maximin, Saint-Laurent-la-Vernède, Saint-Marcel-de-Careiret, Saint-André-d'Olérargues, Verfeuil, Lussan, Fons-sur-Lussan, Allègre-les-Fumades, Navacelles and Brouzet-les-Alès are crossed.
Alès Grand Prix in Cévennes: February 9, 2025 / individual time trial / Alès > Alès
For this traditional last stage, often decisive in deciding the winner of the Étoile de Bessèges, the town of Alès will be in the spotlight. The start will be made on the Place Henri Barbusse not far from the Cratère and the event will cross, among other things, the avenues Carnot and Jules Guesde or the road to Saint-Jean-du-Pin, to arrive at the magnificent site of the Hermitage . Responsible for representing Max Roustan and Christophe Rivenq, the Alès Sports Assistant, Marie-Claude Albaladejo, emphasizes the importance of the Tour du Gard: “I am very happy to support you on this great project. It is something crucial for us to welcome these high-level athletes. It is also an opportunity to meet cyclists that we see at the television and it’s rewarding for our residents.”
