Sam Bennett Triumphs in Thrilling Finale Amid High-Speed Crash at Arles Excursion de la Provence

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Sam Bennett of Decathlon AG2R L. a. Mondiale (left) takes the dash victory on degree 3 at Excursion de l. a. Provence(Symbol credit score: Billy Ceusters/Getty Photographs)Basic view of a Staff Cofidis rider falling within 150km to head in Arles, as Sam Bennett (left) sprints to victory t(Symbol credit score: Billy Ceusters/Getty Photographs)Degree 3 winner Sam Bennett of Decathlon AG2R L. a. Mondiale(Symbol credit score: Billy Ceusters/Getty Photographs)Samuel Leroux of Staff TotalEnergies compete within the breakaway(Symbol credit score: Billy Ceusters/Getty Photographs)Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) rides in peloton right through degree 3(Symbol credit score: Billy Ceusters/Getty Photographs)Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) at the place to begin within the Blue Chief Jersey talks with Fred Wright of Bahrain-Victorious, who wears the Blue Dash Jersey, previous to degree 3(Symbol credit score: Billy Ceusters/Getty Photographs)

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) received the 2025 Excursion de l. a. Provence after the peloton stuck a overdue and made up our minds assault within the ultimate kilometre at the highway to Arles within the South of France, sparking a busy dash end.  

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R L. a. Mondiale) got here overdue to win the degree, heading off the chaos at the back of him. Marijn van den Berg (EF Training-EasyPost) used to be 2d and Alexander Konijn (Great Métropole Côte d’Azur) used to be 3rd 

Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) gave the impression to hit a velocity bump within the highway and misplaced keep an eye on of his motorcycle simply 100 metres from the end, sparking a high-speed crash among the sprinters. Israel-Premier Tech stated Ackermann suffered highway rash and superficial wounds however didn’t endure any fractures. 

Pedersen have shyed away from the crash and completed 9th and so secured total victory.

“It was a good day, it was a fast day in the peloton. A strong breakaway got away late in the race and it was hard to catch them back. But we and other teams managed it. We ended up in the sprint we wanted. We didn’t get the result but we still got the GC, so all is good,” Pedersen defined.  

“I think it was Ackermann who crashed and when he went down, of course, you slam on the brakes, you don’t want to go down yourself. That destroyed the sprint for me but I’m happy I didn’t go down.  

“I nonetheless have some paintings to do, I am not at my perfect but. There may be nonetheless two months till Paris-Roubaix.”   

How it unfolded

The final stage of the Tour de La Provence was the flattest of the race, offering a long day and 190km in the saddle. 

Strangely, the early attacks were all chased down, with the peloton together even after a fast opening 70km of racing. It was a sign the finish would be fast and furious. 

A slowing in the peloton inspired an attack and suddenly Raùl Garcia Pierna (Arkéa-B&B Hôtels), Samuel Leroux (TotalEnergies), Cériel Desal (Wagner Bazin WB), Daniel Smajkic Årnes (Van Rysel-Roubaix), Matisse Julien (CIC U Nantes) and Damien Girard (Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur) got away. They quickly opened a two-minute lead.  

Garcia Pierna was an overall threat and so the peloton kept them under control. However the attackers refused to give up hope and worked together in a slick and efficient paceline.  

Garcia Pierna was eventually dropped in the final 10 kilometres, but the others pushed on, taking the fight to the peloton. Lidl-Trek did some of the work but with GC virtually assured they forced others to lead the chase and so Israel-Premier Tech and Unibet Tietema Rockets massed on the front in the final kilometres. 

The gap to the attackers was still significant as they entered the final five kilometres but the peloton could see them and sensed an opportunity for another sprint show down. 

Israel-Premier Tech had several sprint options but their hopes ended when Ackermann hit the speed bump in the final hundred metres and lost control of his bike. Others riders piled into him, disrupting the sprint. 

Bennett was to the right and slightly ahead of the crash, giving him a clear run at the line. He did not hesitate and reproduced the speed that gave him victory on stage 1 in Saint-Victoret.

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