Benjamín Noval claimed overall victory in the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour, a junior stage race held from Friday to yesterday in France. The talented Spanish talent born in 2008, currently riding for MMR Academy but already set to make the leap to Netcompany Ineos where he will arrive next year, shared the final podium with Michael Hettegger, Austrian rider from Lidl - Trek Junior Racing, and Seff Van Kerckhove, Belgian from Decathlon CMA CGM U19 Team.

The final stage, an individual time trial climb of 14.9 kilometers starting from Anglefort and finishing at the summit of Le Grand Colombier, saw victory go to Kristian Haugetun of the Norwegian National Team who stopped the clock at 44'46" ahead of Noval by 12 seconds and Hettegger by 56 seconds.

The French race opened under the sign of Noval, who was able to win the first stage crossing the finish line in Artemare solo, leaving behind Vic De Smet of Soudal Quick-Step U19 and Aitor Martínez, Spanish rider from Vangi Sama Ricambi Il Pirata. Patrik Pezzo Rosola finished the opening day in tenth position.

Victory in the second stage went to British rider Finlay Storrie (JEGG-SKIL-DJR) with Martínez again prominent in second place and rising talent Enzo Hincapie (Grenke - Auto Eder) completing the day's podium. At the Saint Victor de Morestel finish line, Italian riders also made their mark: Giulio Franceschini (Ciclistica Trevigliese), Guido Viero (Nordest Petrucci Assali Stefen) and Luciano Gaggioli (Vangi Sama Ricambi Il Pirata) finished fifth, seventh and tenth respectively.

After two attempts, Aitor Martínez (Vangi Sama Ricambi Il Pirata) secured victory in the third stage which concluded in Gaillard. Behind him were Belgian Seff Van Kerckhove (Decathlon CMA CGM U19 Team) and Swede Elias Wändel (JEGG-SKIL-DJR).

On Monday, in the penultimate stage, victory went to European junior champion Karl Herzog (Grenke - Auto Eder) who dropped Seff Van Kerckhove (Decathlon CMA CGM U19 Team) and Michael Hettegger (Lidl Trek Junior Racing) at Les Plans d'Hotonnes.

Photos from social media