The UCI E-Sports world champion Loes Adegeest has had a solid 2022 season. Joining IBCT after going public on Twitter about her search for a new team heading into this season, it’s worked out well. Not only is she now a world champion, she will also be joining FDJ-Suez in 2023. Still searching for a first UCI win heading into the Tour de l’Ardeche, that landmark has also now been reached.
A leading group of 4 riders managed to escape the peloton. Ricarda Bauernfeind of Canyon SRAM Generation, Emma Langley of the US National Team and a pair from IBCT, Megan Armitage and Loes Adegeest. They had a comfortable gap heading into the finish at Pernes-les-Fontaine, where Irish rider Armitage lead out her teammate, using their numerical advantage. Adegeest was able to beat Bauernfeind, with Langley a second or two behind. Armitage, lead-out done to success was 3 seconds behind Adegeest. The peloton finished around 30 seconds further back.
The stage victory saw Adegeest take over the lead of the race, with a 3-second advantage over both Bauernfeind and Langley. The gap to the German rider rendered slightly moot but this being her last stage before she exits the race and heads to Australia ahead of the World Championships.
The Tour de l’Ardeche continues until Monday 12th September, when the 7th and final stage will take place. Unfortunately, the Tour de l’Ardeche isn’t covered by any live stream, either online or on TV. As a result, it is hard to report on the full ins and outs of each stage and details are very hard to get out of the race. The final 2 stages are promised to be covered with a live stream for the first time and these stages may garner more attention.
