Alec Segaert (Bahrain Victorious) made an impressive turnaround overcoming the heartbreak of being denied at Nokere Koerse in the last 300 metres to win the Grand Prix de Denain just 24 hours later.
GP Denain is known as a mini-Paris-Roubaix. The riders tackle no fewer than 23 kilometres of cobbles across 13 sectors, packed into the second half of the more than 200 kilometre route in northern France. Last year’s winner, Matthew Brennan was not on the start line this time. There was strong field in play, Tibor Del Grosso, Arnaud De Lie, Jordi Meeus, Gianni Vermeersch’s all lining up.
Favorite Arnaud De Lie had terrible luck on the cobbles, puncturing three times all within the last 60 kilometres, and that effectively ended his chances. At the front, Per Strand Hagenes had gone clear together with Segaert, who had already made such an impression at Nokere. With 25 kilometres to go, a counterattack of nine riders including Turgis and Vermeersch set off in chase of the two leaders. The move didn’t last long.
On the last cobble section, Segaert launched clear from Hagenes with every intention of winning. At Nokere Koerse, he had been caught in the final metres, and in Denain it looked as though it might become tight once again for the Belgian rider.
This time, it was Segaert who entered the final kilometres alone, looking over his shoulder as the peloton got closer, but unlike in Nokere, he claimed a superb victory!
