4 days from Dunkirk Gregoire
Young Frenchman Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) won the 67th edition of the 4-Day Dunkirk Race, after winning the sixth stage in a sprint by Belgian champion Tim Merler (Soudal Quick Step). The 20-year-old Bisontin succeeds the winners of this Hauts-de-France Grand Prix to Wallonne Philippe Gilbert.
At the start of this last leg of the 4 days from Dunkirk to the plane, Roman Gregoire He wore the leader’s jersey for the first time in a stage race. After his coup the day before in Cassel, the Groupama-FDJ rider knew the General had yet to win. that Olaf Koeij (jumbo visma) and even Kasper green Soudal Quick Step can still come back by winning all of the day’s rewards.
But the suspense drops quickly when the 4 riders breakaway starts from the first kilometres. Anthony Turges (total power), Maxim Garnet (Van Ressel Roubaix Lille Metropolis), Aaron Gate (Bolton Equities Black Spoke) and Morne van Niekerk Thus, St Michel Mavic Auber93 will win the rewards in the three sprints of the day. The perfect scenario for Groupama-FDJ, which has undoubtedly benefited from the alliance of French teams to consolidate the success of the tricolor in these four days of Dunkirk 2023.
Turges’ stunning fall
But these attackers will not be rewarded for their attack. South Africa Morne van Niekerk Skidding from the front wheel in a turn. Anthony Turges The Auber 93 runner hits him and gets sunburned. Both riders manage to start again but the breakaway is already far away. Rubisi Maxim Garnet and NZ Aaron Gate It will resume shortly.
As so often, this final 4-day stage will end in a massive sprint on the final circuit of Dunkirk, which has reclaimed the pass over the sea wall.
Disappointing all week Tim Merler (Soudal Quick Step) He will win this enemy despite the poor organization of his team. The Belgian champion blows victory in the last meters over the Norwegian Erlend Pleecra (Uno X). By taking third place in the stage, the Dutchman Sis Paul (Astana) also snatched third place overall from its compatriot Olaf Koeijwho missed the sprint.
“I’m happy, I was able to do a sprint and win”Sure Tim Merler Live on Eurosport. ” The team has done well, and we haven’t gone above 30th in the peloton. Happy to end the week with a win. »
Grégoire is the youngest winner
Roman GregoireAnd he confirms his victory in the general classification without being in danger during the day. ” I suspected because it was really tough all day with the wind and the circuit with all the restarts. My teammates did everything they could to protect me and I owe them this win. The work was outrageous and I want to say thank you to them. »
At the age of 20, the puncher from Franche-Comté won his first stage race with the professionals, after his success on Wednesday in the Compiegne-Laun stage. He also became the youngest winner of the 4 Days of Dunkirk. Enters the profession with success On the list of the prestigious awards Philip Gilbert, The winner here is in his final professional year. reference…
The overall classification of the Avion-Dunkirk leg is sixth
1. MERLIER Tim SOQ BEL Run 173.3km in 3h56’38” (average 43.941km/h) (B: 10″)
2. BLIKRA Erlend UXT NOR” (B: 06″)
3. BOL CEES AST NED” (B:04″)
4. *KOOIJ Olav TJV NED”
5. ALPHED MAXIMILIAN RICHARD COF GER »
6. SELIG Rüdiger LTD GER »
7. *FRETIN AC Milan TFB BEL”
8. *PENHOET PAUL GFC FRA »
9. HOFSTETTER HUGO ARK FRA »
10. MALUCELLI Matthew BWB ITA »
Final overall rating
1. Romain Gregoire Groupama – FDJ 21:14:08
2. Kasper ASGREEN SOUDAL QUICK-STEP 13
3. Cess Ball Astana Team Kazakhstan 15
4. Olav KOOIJ JUMBO-VISMA 17 20
5. Brent VAN MOER LOTTO DSTNY 20
6. Ethan Vernon Soudal – Quick Step 24
7. Alexis Renard Covidis 27
8. Peter SAGAN TOTALENERGIES 36
9. Per Strand HAGENES JUMBO-VISMA 36
10. SAMUEL WATSON GROUPAMA-FDJ 39
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