The COVID-19 pandemic and race cancellations around the world have led WorldTour teams to seek a traditional early season race program in Europe.

This five-day stage race in Provence and the preceding Grand Prix Cicliste la Marseillaise once opened the European road racing season. With the Tour Down Under, the Vuelta a San Juan, and a series of races in the Middle East, the teams gradually left the south of France, but this year they are joined by Ineos Grenadier, AG2R Citroën, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ, Beulah Hansgrohe, EF Education-. Nippo, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, Israel Start-Up Nation, Lotto Soudal, Qhubeka Assos, and Trek-Segafredo will run Etoile de Besseges.

The presence of WorldTour teams has forced many professional teams to fight for invitations to race early in the season. According to French reports, B&B Hôtels, Delco, Arkea Samsic, Total Direct Energie, Alpecin Phoenix, Bingoal WB, Expo Cologne Pharma, and Sport Vlaanderen Baloise have been invited to Etoile de Besseges. Saint-Michel-Auber 93, Zélys-Roubaix-Lille-Metropole, and the Cambodian Cycling Academy Continental Team complete the start list.

The Etoile de Besseges was created to provide an early race for teams completing their January training camp in the south of France. It will then be an attractive block of racing in the south of France for the teams, as the 6th Tour de la Provence will be held from February 11-14.

The 2021 Etoile de Besseges will begin with a 141 km road race stage around Bellegarde and end with an 11 km time trial around Ales.

Benoit Cosnefrois showed his potential by winning the overall in 2020. He is expected to return this year with the strengthened AG2R Citroën team.