Lesser known races 2025 edition

[RedheadDane]

And here's the startlist for this year, which I kinda feel might be a bit more useful:

Startlist for Grand Prix de Denain - Porte du Hainaut 2025

Competing teams and riders for Grand Prix de Denain - Porte du Hainaut 2025. Top competitors are Arnaud De Lie, Aaron Gate and Sam Bennett.

www.procyclingstats.com

 

[Samamba]

Let's hope this won't be a big group sprint today cause euhm...

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Denain does lie at the Schelde river so they‘re allowed to break collarbones (just like Rvv with the finish at Oudenaarde)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Let's hope this won't be a big group sprint today cause euhm...

Wait, what the *** have they done? Is the old final straight out of commission?

And, as ever in this kind of situation: why are finishes never vetted in advance? In my view it's the single most useful thing the UCI can unilaterally do for rider safety...

But hey, at least they have the Boplan barriers everyone always harps on about as some sort of panacea.

 

[Samamba]

Wait, what the *** have they done? Is the old final straight out of commission?

And, as ever in this kind of situation: why are finishes never vetted in advance? In my view it's the single most useful thing the UCI can unilaterally do for rider safety...

But hey, at least they have the Boplan barriers everyone always harps on about as some sort of panacea.

Construction stuff going on on previous finish, I assume it will be back next year. But this is not a great replacement, definitely not that the race looks a bit easier than previous years too.

 

[danielzu]

Kanter already abandoned. Did he crash? Astana really suffering at the moment, they will not score any points today

 

[Samamba]

Kanter already abandoned. Did he crash? Astana really suffering at the moment, they will not score any points today

not recovered from sickness at the beginning of the week

 

[Samamba]

Like 20 to 25 riders gone from the peloton. I saw both Vermeersch', Bjerg, Walscheid, Bisegger, De Bondt, Del Grosso, Van Moer and Segaert at the front.

Big gap to peloton already. Think this is already a first decisive move.

 

[search]

seeing how this race develops, Kanter would likely not have scored points anyway I think, no matter the shape. It's not a good race for him, particularly not if it's raced hard.

 

[Samamba]

Nice situation with basically all favorites in that front group, meaning it won't be about positioning but about pure strength.

 

[Samamba]

Brennan also there. Astana has Romele or Gazzoli in there next to Gate. Biermans for Arkea

FDJ missed out, that's just horrible

Did Cofidis also miss out?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

well, its been raced pretty hard from the get go. Another cobbles sector coming up.

 

[Samamba]

Askey trying to jump

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gutter not available.

 

[Samamba]

Askey might make it

Walscheid with a flat

Brennan and Del Grosso looking really good. Wouldn't surprise me if one of them wins.

 

[Samamba]

10 guys left in front after Segaert attack

 

[Tim Cahill]

De Bondt, Segaert and Gate(?) forcing a split, UAE almost missed it but one of them managed to cling onto the back.

 

[danielzu]

Both astana guys missed out that new split. Cofidis already missed the first one

 

[Samamba]

TDT dominant lmao, pretty wild

No idea why they are riding in the 2nd group tho

 

[Tim Cahill]

Nvm i think Astana missed it, these jerseys I'm bad with

 

[postmanhat]

Brennan's there as well. Is it Florian Vermeersch for UAE?

 

[Samamba]

Gaps aren't big. 12 seconds to 2nd group (moto trying to bring back the french guys), 25 to peloton.

Is it Florian Vermeersch for UAE?

Yes

 

[Samamba]

I never understand why groups like this don't work together. There's no one in there that doesn't benefit from trying to keep this group clear.

 

[SafeBet]

TDT dominant lmao, pretty wild

No idea why they are riding in the 2nd group tho

Such a fun team to follow despite the tactical mistakes.

 

[postmanhat]

I never understand why groups like this don't work together. There's no one in there that doesn't benefit from trying to keep this group clear.

Was thinking the same thing. There's enough power there to keep them rolling along on the flat sections, but at least one the Alpecin riders keeps missing a turn and disrupting the rhythm.