As on Friday, Groupama-FDJ United left the second race of the Belgian Holy Week somewhat frustrated this Sunday. At “In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem”, Thibaud Gruel first showed very encouraging signs as he faced the top riders on the Kemmelberg, before the race was decided in a reduced bunch sprint. Axel Huens then gave it his all, but his bid for a top-10 finish was hampered by a dropped chain in the final kilometre, forcing him to settle for twelfth place.
Despite a different name, the route was a familiar one for the riders this Sunday at In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, previously known as Gent-Wevelgem. As last year, three ascents of the Kemmelberg were on the menu, with the final one coming just thirty-five kilometres from the finish. Nearly 130 kilometres had to be covered before reaching the climbs, and the race proved also eventful during this opening phase. “We took the race the right way by making sure to stay in the front positions, as there were quite a few exposed sections from the new start in Middelkerke,” explained William Green. “Johan did a really great job early on. Then, in De Moeren, echelons formed, a group of around forty riders went clear, and we had five riders in it. That confirmed our strong start.” “Having five guys up there at that point says a lot,” added Axel Huens, who was briefly caught out alongside Thibaud Gruel. “It shows how present we were as a team.” A head-to-head battle between the two pelotons lasted for nearly forty kilometres before things eventually came back together just before the first ascent of the Kemmelberg, a little over 90 kilometres from the finish.
“I’m gutted” – Axel Huens
“Then, as we came towards the gravel sectors (Ploegsteert), Thibaud did a super job,” William continued. “He was full of confidence and was right there at the front.” The young Frenchman, attentive and proactive in positioning, did it again a few minutes later just before tackling the second ascent of the Kemmelberg. He reached the bottom in the top eight positions and tried to follow the attacks of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. “He was really close to following them,” William pointed out. “He was just missing a little something, but it is definitely promising and it was a clear improvement compared to E3.” The Groupama-FDJ United puncheur came over the climb in fourth position of the peloton, but unfortunately too far behind a leading trio that had already gone clear. A chasing pack of around fifty riders then regrouped, including Thibaud Gruel and Axel Huens. “Thibaud was really strong on the climbs,” Axel added. “As for me, I was struggling a bit at first, but I felt better as the kilometres went by. We both made it over the final Kemmel, and we quickly understood it would come down to a sprint.”
In the final thirty kilometres, the peloton gradually closed the gap to van der Poel and van Aert, but the catch was only made with two kilometres to go, setting up a sprint of around thirty-five riders for the win. “The goal was for Thibaud and Axel to take their chance, because we know these sprints are not easy to manage, with fatigue and everyone wanting to be part of it,” explained William. “The idea was for each of us to follow a sprinter’s wheel, ideally on opposite sides of the road, and I was personally confident,” said Axel. The northern Frenchman found an opening more easily than his teammate, but due to an incident in the final kilometre, he could do no better than twelfth place at the line. “I’m completely gutted because I dropped my chain with 500 metres to go,” he said. “I’m even more frustrated because I managed to put a strong acceleration after. I’m hugely frustrated. You could say twelfth isn’t so bad considering where I come from, but that’s not something to settle for. When you have the legs to finish top 10 or top 5 in a race like this, you have to take your chance. I’m really gutted…” “Honestly, he could have been close to the top five,” William confirmed. “As for Thibaud, he still lacks a bit of aggressiveness in the sprint, and that’s something he needs to keep working on.”
“We keep fighting” – William Green
Despite real promise, it was therefore another frustrating outcome for the Classics group. “Sadly, we’re just outside the top 10 again, but we’re consistent, we keep fighting, and we’ll keep making sure to be there at Dwars door Vlaanderen,” William concluded. “Overall, it’s a pretty good day, but frustrating at the end,” Axel said. “Personally, I’ve really taken a big step forward compared to last year, and I’m in good physical shape, including on the climbs. I always hoped to become a strong Classics rider, and I think I now have the level required. Now I need to confirm it with some results. I still have three great races before the break, and I’ll go all in with confidence given the form I’ve shown recently.”
