It’s surprising not to see Stallaert here on the favorites list, but most of the expected riders are here in some capacity.
There’s a strong breakaway that gets away including some very strong cobble specialists. They get away relatively easily and all other minor attacks are covered easily. Up front, we’ve got: Grand Gradek Kolev Armirail Thwaites Le Gac, Delbove Biermans Okbamariam, Habimana Kooistra Ryuki
Together they have 2:25 at 165km to go.
In the peloton, the following teams are all relaying slowly with one rider: Los Pollos Hermanos, Strava, Jura GIANTS, and DuckDuckGo - Everesting. Sauber Petronas Racing is the only team contributing two. With 150km to go, the gap is 4:45 to the breakaway 12.
Heading into the first cobbled climb, the peloton has realized that 5:00 is far too much leash to give some of these riders and they’ve brought the gap back to 2:45 and are closing quickly. There’s still 125km to go. The breakaway is taking this one steady, but the cobbles are already taking their toll. In order, Le Gac, Ryuki, Armirail, and Delbove all lose their contact with the front and no matter whether they make it back, this is not a good sign for things to come.
The peloton has already left many riders behind and is only at 112 and that’s after some additional regrouping. That means 42 riders are off the back for good after just one ascent. Looks like it could be carnage for them at this point. The peloton has 1:42 to the breakaway at the summit of the non-cobbled climb with 114km to go.
After a relatively calm 9th ascent, cameras rejoin the peloton on their 8th to final climb up the cobbled climb. They’ve let the break extend their lead again to 3:25 as things were probably heading into some challenging moments if the pace didn’t subside. 95km to go. Ahead Delbove, Armirail and Ryuki have fallen off the breakaway again and then regain contact. Le Gac had already been swallowed by the peloton.
75km to go and the peloton is down to 77 riders. The biggest surprises for those behind is Schlechter. The gap to 11 still ahead together is 2:28. There are still groups rejoining every descent so getting back is possible but positioning will always be an issue if they can’t make corrections now. On the next climb, Jacobs punctures and has to work hard on the descent to rejoin, but does.
An attack of three from the peloton with 60km to gets the race truly going. Van Keirsbulck began the attack on the minor climb with Trentin and Moulingui joining forces. They crest this hill with 30 seconds on the main field who is 62 riders strong but will likely diminish on the downhill.
The breakaway group is down to the strongest eight riders, who haven’t struggled yet as they crest the 5th to final ascent of the finishing climb together. As a reminder, they are Thwaites, Biermans, Kooistra, Habimana, Okbamariam, Gradek, Grand, and Kolev. They have 1:57 over the peloton.
Simultaneously, Centrone wants to join his teammate on the attack and he brings Theuns and Debesay off the front of the peloton. They cover the ground to Trentin quickly but can’t really get away and brings the peloton over together on the top.
With Centrone’s attack failing, Trans Looney Tunes is at it again as they head into the 4th to final climb. Lecourt De Billot leads a group of six on the attack. Gaday, Theuns, Debesay, Livyns, and Schoonbroodt all jump off the front. There’s still the group of Van Keirsbulck and Moulingui ahead alongside the original breakaway. At 42km to go, their gap is very small and can easily be consumed on the cobbles. In fact, the peloton decides there is no way that group of 6 gets away and they’re covered immediately.
Across the top, there’s some chaos, so let’s review the groups
Peloton (+2:21)
Chase 4 (+2:04)
Chase 3 (+1:51)
Chase 2 (+1:32)
Chase 1 (+1:03)
Leaders
37 riders
Theuns
Moulingui
Debesay
Kooistra
Okbamariam
Gaday
Van Keirsbulck
Habimana
Centrone
Girmay
Grand
Gradek
Thwaites
Kolev
Biermans
Those groups… throw them out the window. With 33km to go and heading into the final 3 ascents of the cobbled climb, the original breakaway is in shambles. Three remain as the leaders: Grand and the two from Bralirwa - Stevens - Habimana and Okbamariam. Thwaites is in a group by himself. The only group of attackers from the peloton still away are Girmay, Debesay and Van Keirsbulck. Everyone else has been wrapped into what is a 41 man group.
Habimana has said enough is enough and he’s powered away from all his breakaway companions with 27km to go and 2 full circuits remaining. Debesay has powered through the breakaway as well and is the 2nd, 40 seconds behind.
The peloton of 28 comes through the 20km banner and it seems like things are finally settling down. Ahead, Debesay and Habimana are together, approaching the penultimate cobble climb and the peloton can see them turning the corner ahead. Between them is Okbamariam who is clearly struggling and should be brought into the fold soon. Still, this is looking like a huge performance for African cycling if the results were taken at this moment. The gap between the two leaders and the peloton is 1:16.
In the group of 28 are: Owen, Gaday Spengler, Jacobs, Bohli Ringheim, Kuroeda, Havik Theuns Summerhill Teggart, Stallaert David, Schoonbroodt, Marzuki Breen, Eriksson, Kaislavuo Zepuntke, Ulloa Van Keirsbulck, Daniel, Riesebeek, Kumara Van Hooydonck Chatarunga Girmay Gamper
Heading into the cobbled portion of the penultimate climb, the peloton crushed the pace and now there are 21 riders together, all strung out from Habimana ahead to Spengler closest to picture. With attacks still moving, things will change by the top of this climb.
The cobbles did drop a few more riders as there are now 12 riders remaining in the front group (ignore lapped Zambanini in frame). Stallaert is attacking with Daniel in his wheel but Gaday doesn’t want to let them go. Behind, again there is absolute carnage with favorites strung across the road in fatigue and mixing themselves between the lapped comrades. The remaining riders in the front twelve are: Bohli, Jacobs, Theuns, Kuroeda, Schoonbroodt, Summerhill, Van Hooydonck, Zepuntke, and David.
There are attacks on the non-cobbled climb, just as Gamper, Eriksson and Marzuki make the leading group 15 strong. The attack comes from Bohli. Summerhill and Kuroeda are the most interested in joining the attack. However, Stallaert covers the move with ease on behalf of the group.
Summerhill tries again now that their original move was covered and Theuns is the one trying to follow this time! The gap has been made but can it be kept! 7.3km to go.
It’s Theuns’ time to attack Summerhill now as they go under the 5km to go banner. The Jura GIANT seems to have the strength of a Titan today after all his moves. Officially, he has 5 seconds over Summerhill and 24 over the group of 12 which has dropped Marzuki.
Summerhill has reconnect with Theuns with 3km to go and the race only rises to the line now. They still have 20 seconds over the group of 12 where Schoonbroodt is sacrificing himself for David’s chances.
The group is back together again and they’re struggling on the cobbles. Zepuntke has tried to attack, but it’s tough to get any momentum at this point. Stallaert has joined him on the front while Van Hooydonck looks very strong as well.
David takes the lead with 700m to go! Van Hooydonck is on the inside with him in 2nd place. Kuroeda is still holding strong as is Gaday. Theuns, Stallaert and Zepuntke look like they just might’ve spent their matches too early.
Van Hooydonck is sneaking back in front with 300m to go and what a story that would be to leave David in 2nd a 3rd year in a row. Stallaert may have found another gear though and appears to have more momentum than we thought. Bohli, Summerhill and Zepuntke are the only other ones able to get a top 5 unless Theuns smashes these last meters.
100 grueling meters to go and David is coming back just a little bit. Is there enough left in the tank?
David finds the win! What a fight all the way from the final 3km and across the last two years. What a victory! Heartbreak for Van Hooydonck who probably thought the win would be theirs. Stallaert is the clear 3rd.
Bohli wouldn’t have expected leadership today but he gets 4th place ahead of Zepuntke. Summerhill is the clear 6th as well before a gap. Theuns is 7th after a massive attacking race.
Gaday takes 8th while Kuroeda earns 9th in what was a very strong race for the Japanese as well.
Daniel can be seen passing the finish in 10th while Eriksson approaches the line in 11th. Gamper and Jacobs comes across 12th and 13th. 14th goes to Schoonbroot while Marzuki ends up 15th. The top 20 is closed out by Riesebeek, Spengler, Ringheim, Debesay, and Owen.
David is absolutely enjoying the podium after missing this opportunity so many times!
1 Jour de Dunkerque
