German fastman cruises to the first pink jersey of the race after ten riders get clear in the closing kilometres
John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) cruised to an easy sprint victory in the first stage of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque, between Dunkerque and Coquelles. The German sprinter was by far the fastest member of the ten-man group that managed to force its way clear in the closing kilometres of the 169.6km stage; as Thomas Voekler (Europcar) tried to take the others by surprise as they entered the finishing straight, the German accelerated and flew by the Frenchman to take his first victory of the season.
Clinging to Degenkolb’s wheel - but having nothing like the pace to come past - as he cruised by Vockler were Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone) and Pierrick Fédrigo (FDJ-BigMat), who took second and third places respectively.
The break of the day came from Damien Gaudin (Europcar), Bert-Jan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Alessandro Bazzana (Team Type 1-Sanofi), Dimitri Le Boulch (Auber 93) and Tomasz Olejnik (Véranda Rideau-Super U). With 36km to go Gaudin attacked and got away, but was joined and dropped by a group of six counterattckers, made up of Gert Steegmans and Jérôme Pineau (both Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Julien Guay (Roubaix-Lille Metropole), Pierrick Fédrigo (FDJ-BigMat), Danilo Napolitano (Aqua & Sapone), and Romain Zingle (Cofidis).
On the final of three climbs to the top of Cap Gris Nez, with 8km to go, Degenkolb and Voeckler bridged across, along with Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Carlos Betancur (Acqua & Sapone).
Despite their numerical superiority in the group of ten, Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Acqua & Sapone were unable to compete with the speed of the lone Argos-Shimano rider, and he took an easy victory. The German also takes the first pink leader’s jersey of the five-day race.
Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ-BigMat) led the peloton across the line 13 seconds later.
Reactions to follow.
No mountains but plenty of wind and a break goes early
Gaudin, Lindeman, Bazzana, Le Boulch and Olejnik escaped early on, with Lindeman leading over the top of the climbs of Le Val, in Cleques after 46.2km, and Le Ventu, in Alembon after 73.4km. Le Boulch asserted himself over the top of Cap Blanc Nez for the first time, after 113.7km however, by which time the FDJ-BigMat team had got the peloton close to within 2’20” of the group.
The group’s lead was down to less than two minutes as they crossed the line with three 16.1km laps to go, and with 36km to go Gaudin attacked. He managed to get away from the other five members of the group, and over the line for the second time was 14 seconds ahead.
The Frenchman still had 32.2km of exposed roads to go however, and only led the peloton by 1’45”.
With 25km to go though, Gaudin was 40 seconds ahead of his former companions, and still 1’41” clear of the peloton. An attack from Zico Waeytens (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) attacked the peloton on the climb to Cap Blanc Nez though, jolted the peloton into action, a large group detached from the front, overtaking all bar Gaudin.
With most of the big teams represented in this new group, the speed of the peloton dropped a little and allowed them to open up a small gap with 20km to go. There were far too many riders for cohesion in the group however, and progress was limited.
Realising this, riders began to attack in ones and twos, but were unable to get away; meanwhile, up ahead, Gaudin was still working hard.
With 17km to go Steegmans and Jérôme managed to force the six-man group clear of the rest on the exposed road. With them were Guay, Fédrigo, Napolitano and Zingle, and they began to open up a lead. At the bell Gaudin was 28 seconds clear of the new chase group, with the Omega Pharma-Quick Step-led peloton a further 30 seconds back. With two riders up the road though, the Belgian team was making no effort to close things down.
With 12km to go Gaudin looked over his shoulder and saw the group just a few seconds behind him; the Frenchman eased up and allowed the six men to catch him, and latched on the back of the line. Having been out on his own for so long however, the Europcar rider was struggling.
Behind the seven leaders a chase group had formed and was just 25 seconds behind as the seven leaders hit the climb for the final climb with just 8km to go. Gaudin was immediately distanced by the pace set by Pineau at the front, but the three riders, who had splintered off the front of the chase group, were now gaining.
The winning break is made but a sprinter has snuck himself in
The four were Voeckler, Stybar, Betancur and Degenkolb, and they made contact with 6km to go. Omega Pharma-Quick Step now had three riders in the group of ten, and Aqua & Sapoine two, but, nervous of Degenkolb’s sprint, they began to attack with 4km to go.
Stybar was the first to go but, as he was caught, he was countered by Zingle. The Cofidis rider was chased down by Pineau, who momentarily dropped Steegmans and Napolitano, but they were all together again as they entered the final three kilometres.
The peloton was being led by Bretagne-Schuller and Saur-Sojasun, and had the leaders in sight as they approached the final kilometre. The gap was to wide to close however, and the attacks began once again.
Voeckler was the first to try as the leaders entered the finishing straight, but it was a mere formality for Degenkolb, and the German cruised past to take the stage.
Result stage 1
1. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
3. Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) FDJ-BigMat
4. Thomas Vockler (Fra) Team Europcar
5. Julien Guay (Fra) Roubaix-Lille Metropole
6. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 3s
7. Carlos Betancur (Col) Acqua & Sapone
8. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis
9. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
10. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
Standings after stage 1
1. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone @ 4s
3. Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) FDJ-BigMat @ 5s
4. Thomas Vockler (Fra) Team Europcar @ 10s
5. Julien Guay (Fra) Roubaix-Lille Metropole
6. Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 11s
7. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 13s
8. Carlos Betancur (Col) Acqua & Sapone
9. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis
10. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step