We are racing on the cobbles this Thursday.
The big cobbled Classics of the season are rapidly approaching, but before the main appointments of late March and early April, our riders will have the opportunity to take on a one-day race which incorporates some of the famous pavé roads of the “Hell of the North”.
This Thursday, the 66th edition of the Grand Prix de Denain is scheduled to take place over a 197.7km course that will include 22.9 kilometers of cobbles divided across 13 different sectors, which are sure to gradually whittle down the peloton. The first of these comes more than 100 kilometers into the race, with the last one – the 1600m-long Abscon segment – set to be tackled just ten kilometers from home.
Soudal Quick-Step will be at the start with a young squad – consisting of Gil Gelders, Luke Lamperti, who finished third in Nokere Koerse, Andrea Raccagni, Federico Savino, and Warre Vangheluwe – and sports director Tom Steels is confident in our chances of doing a good race: “Denain is a hectic race, with some hard cobblestone sections. At the same time, it’s a good opportunity to test the equipment towards Paris-Roubaix. We know it won’t be easy out there, but the guys are motivated and determined to prove themselves.”
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
