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GP Denain

Kreder: “The team reached a new level, and so did I”

The GP de Denain (1.Pro, 21/09) was always considered as a sprint classic until in 2018 when the addition of 20 kilometer of cobbles transformed it into a general repetition for Paris-Roubaix. Both races couldn’t take place this spring because of the pandemic and were postponed to the end of the season.

Twelve cobble sections adorn the 62nd edition of 200.3 kilometer, during which the peloton will cross the finish line in Denain three times before the actual finish of the race. Haspres-Thiant (1700m), Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon-Maing (1600m), Maing-Quérénaing (2500m), Quérénaing-Verchain-Maugré (1600m), Verchain-Maugré-Saulzoir (1200m) and Avesnes-le-Sec-Hordain (1800m) are the six cobble sections which are repeated twice during the final 90 kilometer. After the last section, 11 kilometer remain until the finish in Denain.

For this tenth race of the French Cup, sports directors Hilaire Van der Schueren and Steven De Neef can rely on Aimé De Gendt, twice the runner-up in Le Samyn, Taco van der Hoorn, recently 2nd in the Antwerp Port Epic, and  Baptiste Planckaert who will participate for the eighth time this Tuesday. The 32 year old finished in the top 15 of each of the races of the French Cup in which he participated this season. Cyclocross specialist Quinten Hermans will participate in his last road race of the season on the favorite terrain of Ludwig De Winter. Together with Wesley Kreder he was a part of Danny van Poppel’s podium in the Gooikse Pijl last Sunday. Also French neopro Théo Delacroix will be at the start in Denain.

« I recovered well from La Vuelta, my second Grand Tour of the season. I punctured on a bod moment in the Antwerp Port Epic, but last Sunday I contributed to Danny van Poppel's 2nd place in Gooik. Tomorrow I'm expecting a demanding race similar to the Antwerp Port Epic. The presence of numerous champions and cobble specialists at the start might cause an open race, which is a good sign for our team as we like offensive racing. I'll be at the start with this mindset, next to my role in support for the team leaders. With their current form they are serious contenders. In general, the team reached a new level this season, and so did I! I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. Those two Grand Tours made me stronger, so I'm really looking forward to take advantage of those good legs during the last weeks of the season. »

Line up:
Aimé De Gendt
Théo Delacroix
Ludwig De Winter
Quinten Hermans
Wesley Kreder
Baptiste Planckaert
Taco van der Hoorn

Sportive Direction:
Hilaire Van der Schueren
Steven De Neef

RESULTS

General Classification

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