Cyclingflash
Sublime Alec Segaert pulls off stunt after near win in Nokere at GP de Denain

Sublime Alec Segaert pulls off stunt after near win in Nokere at GP de Denain

Alec Segaert claimed the GP de Denain in impressive fashion. One day after the peloton narrowly caught him at Danilith Nokere Koerse, he managed to stay ahead of the sprinting pack in Denain. Milan Menten sprinted to second place, with Anthony Turgis finishing third.

The GP de Denain, which passes through the same region as Paris-Roubaix, featured thirteen cobbled sectors this year. Some of these are also part of the Hell of the North in early April, sometimes in the opposite direction. In the GP de Denain, all the sectors were in the second half of the 200-kilometer race. That meant there were plenty of opportunities in the finale for riders like Tibor Del Grosso or Antonio Morgado to make a difference. Or would a sprinter type like Jordi Meeus or Arnaud De Lie take the victory?

There was no real "early" breakaway. The pace was so high in the opening hours that it took until after eighty kilometers before a small group gained some more space. The biggest name among the eight escapees was Aaron Gate. The New Zealander from XDS Astana was joined by, among others, Belgian Nolan Huysman (Flanders-Baloise) and the American talent Ashlin Barry. The latter is contracted to Visma | Lease a Bike’s development team but rode today for the WorldTeam.

Alongside Gate, Huysman, and Barry were Alessio Delle Vedove (XDS Astana), Gorka Sorarrain (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Cole Kessler (Modern Adventure), Killian Théot (Van Rysel Roubaix), Morné Van Niekerk and Antoine Berger (both St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93). The eight started the first cobbled sector of the day with a two-minute lead.

Hagenes and Segaert attack, triple bad luck for De Lie
On the first cobbled sectors, the breakaway started to thin out and the peloton closed in again. Meanwhile, De Lie was forced to chase after a mechanical issue but was soon able to catch back on. Shortly after, the Bull of Lescheret was again by the roadside with a flat tire, as was Cees Bol. Bad timing, as the pace upfront was ramped up significantly.

Alec Segaert, who came close to winning Nokere Koerse on Wednesday, bridged across with a small group to the remaining escapees. They were subsequently reeled in, but more attacks followed immediately. Per Strand Hagenes was very active and launched his own attack 48 kilometers from the finish. Segaert joined him, putting two absolute strong riders on the offensive. Meanwhile, De Lie was definitively out after yet another puncture.

Hagenes attacks Segaert
Aimé De Gendt tried to catch up to Hagenes and Segaert but got caught in the chasse patate (potato chase). The Belgian from Pinarello-Q36.5 eventually dropped back into the thinning peloton. In that group, which also included Del Grosso, UAE Emirates XRG set the pace. In service of former winner Juan Sebastian Molano, they kept the two leaders within striking distance. Several counterattacks followed, including from Brent Van Moer.

Van Moer was later joined by Del Grosso, Jonas Geens (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Nils Politt (UAE Emirates XRG), Alessandro Romele (XDS Astana) and his teammate De Gendt. A strong group, but they didn’t truly close in on Segaert and Hagenes. The latter launched an attack ten kilometers from the finish on the last cobbled sector of the day, building a small gap.

Segaert refused to give up and rode for kilometers about twenty meters behind Hagenes. Was the Belgian playing a tactical game with the Norwegian? He couldn’t forget the peloton though, as it was only twenty seconds behind and Alpecin-Premier Tech was pushing hard. At 2.5 kilometers to go, Segaert seized his moment. He closed the gap to Hagenes and immediately went past him.

Segaert pulls off a stunner
Hagenes was caught, but the peloton was getting closer and closer. Would Segaert’s solo end in heartbreak again, just like Wednesday at Danilith Nokere Koerse? No, because this time the Bahrain Victorious rider didn’t falter. He finished two seconds ahead of the sprinting pack to claim his third professional victory, having won the Grand Prix Criquielion and the time trial at the 2024 Renewi Tour.