The Groupama-FDJ United cycling team had ambitions far greater than just a top-10 finish at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque this week. Yet, at the end of the fifth and final stage, Thibaud Gruel had to settle for tenth place overall, due in particular to an open queen stage on Saturday, where tactics proved more decisive than physical strength. Caught behind a split, Matteo Milan also had to make do with eleventh place in the sprint finish in Dunkirk this Sunday. A week to forget.
On the morning of the decisive Cassel stage at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, and despite having been trapped on the cobbles on Friday, Groupama-FDJ United could still hold genuine hopes for the general classification. On a demanding circuit featuring repeated climbs of the Porte d’Aire and Rue du Tambour, the established order could have definitely been overturned. Unfortunately, the day got off to a bad start for Benoît Vaugrenard’s riders, as Bastien Tronchon, the team’s only other rider still in the mix alongside Thibaud Gruel, was unable to set off. “He was a very important asset for us, and we knew this was a stage that suited him,” explained Benoît. “It was a real setback, and so we started with only five riders, since Tom [Donnenwirth] had also been forced to abandon earlier in the week.” Without their second card to play, Groupama-FDJ United nevertheless tried to animate the race quite early on through Valentin Madouas. However, the selection was mostly made from the back as the climbs accumulated, particularly the Porte d’Aire ascent, at the top of which the finish line was located.
“Things never went our way” – Benoît Vaugrenard
With two laps remaining, only around forty riders were still part of the peloton, including Thibaud Gruel and Valentin Madouas. Several early attacks took place, but with one lap to go, around twenty riders were still in contention for victory. “We knew things would explode in the final lap and that the race leader would be isolated,” Benoît explained. “Thibaud was among the strongest, but it became very tactical because there were hardly any teammates left to control the race. He tried to attack once, twice, three times, but in the end, it was the following group that got away.” Six riders moved clear, and naturally there was little cooperation behind. “From that point on, we knew it would be difficult, and it proved to be,” Benoît said. “We could see that Thibaud was among the strongest on the climbs, but he was isolated, completely alone, without teammates. Not only did we lose Tom and Bastien due to health issues, but Valentin was also really struggling with the first hot temperatures. That’s where we fell short, and that’s what cost us in the end.” Five riders eventually crossed the line ahead of the “favorites,” leaving Thibaud in ninth place on the stage, twenty seconds behind the winner, which saw him move up to tenth overall.
On Sunday, the final stage was expected to have no impact on the general classification, with a sprint anticipated in the streets of Dunkirk. However, the finish was not truly a mass sprint, and the Groupama-FDJ United riders paid for it. “There was a crash and a split in the final corner, and Matteo was right behind it,” Benoît summarized. “We’re disappointed he wasn’t able to show what he could do, because a good work had been done beforehand.” Behind a group of ten riders who had slightly broken away, the Italian had to settle for eleventh place on the stage. It marked the end of an especially frustrating week. “We came here aiming for at least a podium in the general classification,” Benoît concluded. “But this week, things never went our way, right up to today. It’s a week to forget. On the other hand, we know that Thibaud is among the best riders in this kind of Pro Series race. He has been making strong progress since his return at Plumelec, and I think victory is coming soon. He’ll also be racing at the Boucles de la Mayenne, a race that suits him well and where we’ll be highly motivated for redemption. We hope that things will turn around, but we also need our riders to get back to full fitness and good health so we can raise our level another notch.”
