Before the proper cobbled Classics’ campaign starts in a bit more than a week, the bunch returned to the Flemish roads on Wednesday for the Nokere Koerse. On the traditional circuit of the Belgian race, Stefan Küng couldn’t prevent the bunch sprint despite a few attacks in the final. Tim Merlier eventually took victory for the third year in a row while Lewis Askey had to settle for thirteenth place after being caught behind a crash in the last kilometre. Another opportunity looms on Thursday at the Grand Prix de Denain.
Eleven “bergs”, including the usual Nokereberg, and twenty-six cobbled sectors. This was the day’s menu for the riders lining up on the Nokere Koerse, not far from the French border. Despite the few obstacles, many high-level sprinters took the start with the hope to fight for victory. The Groupama-FDJ cycling team had two cards for the day’s race. “We decided to go with Lewis for the sprint, and with Stefan for the moves in the final,” explained Frédéric Guesdon. “The rest of the team was there to support them, including Titouan Fontaine, who usually rides for “La Conti”.” In a quite classic first part of the race, where a six-man breakaway went from the start, the French squad remained rather discreet. On the other hand, they showed up at the front as soon as they entered the first lap of the 31-km final circuit, which had to be done three times. “Titouan and all the others did their job one after the other to position Stefan and Lewis at important times,” added Frédéric. “We decided to race in front. It was better to work at the head of the peloton than to endure the accelerations and splits in the back. It’s always better for learning and morals to ride in the front.”
“Too many teams wanted a sprint”, Frédéric Guesdon
This also allows to always be close to the action, as it happened seventy kilometres from the finish. “UAE Team Emirates and Tim Wellens made a big push in the first lap,” said Frédéric. “Stefan was there, but it didn’t last long. Before every climb or tricky place, the bunch accelerated, and the breakaway was caught in this way.” On the other hand, the numerous attacks never managed to develop, and no move could take a proper gap. Lewis Askey made an attempt shortly before the last lap, Stefan Küng often followed his main contenders, but the bunch always responded. “On each lap, there was a ten-kilometre section with cobblestones, small roads and a hill,” explained Frédéric. “All this led to some fighting, but then it would stop because of a wide road and a slight front wind. We thought it could possibly break apart on the last lap, but it didn’t. The non-sprinters, like Wellens or Stefan, tried but too many teams wanted a sprint, and that blocked the race a bit for the attackers. The elimination just came from behind.”
In the last ten kilometers, nearly sixty riders were still in contention for the final battle. Wellens made a last attack four kilometres from the finish but it did come back all together. Before the sprint on the cobbles of the Nokereberg (400m at 4%), Lewis Askey tried to make his way through on the tricky, descending false-flat approach. A crash shortly after entering the last kilometre, however, forced him to brake, and he had to let go ten men or so. “He was caught behind, but he was probably a little too far away since the favorites got through it,” confided Frédéric. “It’s not a surprise sprint either because the favorites are in the first places.” Tim Merlier beat Fabio Jakobsen and Jasper Philipsen in the end, while the Englishman from Groupama-FDJ had to settle for thirteenth place, three positions ahead of Stefan Küng (16th). “We didn’t get the result we were hoping for, but it was a good day,” concluded Frédéric. “It was also a return to racing for Marc and Stefan in particular. We will continue tomorrow with the Grand Prix de Denain, a race that also suits us and we’ll try to get the best possible result.” “It was a good race in Belgium, with a lot of cobblestones, and so it was a good opportunity for the youngsters to get some habits on these roads,” added Stefan. “Tomorrow will be a good test ahead of Paris-Roubaix. These two races also help me personally to improve my physical condition for the Belgian Classics.” On Thursday, twelve cobbled sectors (22.6 km) are planned in the last 80 kilometres of the French race.
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