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2018 Tour de l'Eurométropole (HC), Belgium

Formerly Circuit Franco-Belge

78th edition: Saturday, September 22, 2018

Tour de l'Eurométropole podium history | 2017 edition | 2019 edition | Course map | Start list

La Louvière - Tournai, 206 km

Mads Pedersen

Mads Pedersen just beats Jempy Drucker. Gregory Van Gansen/PN/BettiniPhoto©2018

The race: Here's the report from winner Mads Pedersen's Trek-Segafredo team

Mads Pedersen sprinted to the win from a select leading group in the Tour de l’Eurométropole after superb teamwork and a great leadout from teammate Jasper Stuyven. It was a tactical finale in a wet and chilly race, and with the combination of Stuyven and Pedersen in the leading group of 10, the best recipe for victory.

“Rain is okay for me, I am used to that in Denmark,” answered Pedersen when asked about the horrible conditions. “Yeah, the motivation was not super high in the beginning of the day, but I felt good legs, and Jasper did a really good job, and I needed to support him. And then it changed in the final.”

The race was not looking good for Trek-Segafredo in the first half with the rain wreaking havoc and a crash landing five of the team on the tarmac, including team leader Jasper Stuyven. But it all changed after Trek-Segafredo put the team on the front in the final 30 kilometers to help bring back the breakaway and when Stuyven attacked with 20 kilometers to go.

“After 60kms I think five of the team went down, and I also went down pretty hard, so it took a while to chase back,” explained Stuyven. “At the end, we decided to help FDJ to control the race and bring back the leaders, and then in the final, I attacked. It was a good group, but I was suffering quite a lot from my crash, and I didn’t feel super fresh anymore. And then Mads came from the back; from then on I tried to help him because he was really strong.”

The peloton was never far behind the leaders, and when it looked like they would be caught with eight kilometers remaining, Pedersen exploded out of the bunch.

“I was there with good legs, and the [leading] group was quite close, so I thought if I could jump and help Jasper to keep the group away it would be perfect,” said Pedersen. “And then I came, and I saw Jasper had made a gap to the other four guys in the front.”

Pedersen flew by the fragmented leaders like they were standing still and quickly caught up to Stuyven, who was alone in the front. But two Trek-Segafredo riders in the lead caused an immediate reaction behind, and three riders quickly bridged, while more attacks flew out of the bunch.  A tired Stuyven fell off the pace as Pedersen continued ahead as a new leading group formed.

“Steven (de Jonge, sport director) was fast on the radio to say that Jasper was chasing it back and then we just supported each other in the final.  It was about who had the legs in the last kilometers,” continued Pedersen, recapping the final kilometers.

Stuyven made it back to the leading group with four kilometers to go and the bunch not far behind. He then went to work and threw everything he had into helping Pedersen, knowing full well who had the better legs at that point.

“With two kilometers to go (Tiesj) Benoot attacked, and I went behind, and I saw that they didn’t immediately follow so that was good for Mads as he could just stay in their wheels,” explained Stuyven. “When they came back, I just kept pulling and pulling. I was a little bit on the limit, but I knew that if I could continue until 250 (meters to go) it would be really good and then Mads just did a great sprint.”

Benoot’s attack would have been successful but for Stuyven, who dug deep for his teammate. “Jasper was impressive… that was really nice,” said Pedersen, heaping praise on his teammate.

Stuyven pulled full gas, drawing back Benoot while giving a leadout for Pedersen, who jumped past the Lotto Soudal rider in the last meters to take the win. “It didn’t look good at the one moment when we were all on the floor and with the weather,” said Stuyven, “so it was really good that we took responsibility and just went for it, and then still win. It was a nice victory.”

With Stuyven taking wins in the GP Wallonie and GP Jef Scherens and Pedersen the Tour de l’Eurométropole, it has been a good run so far for Trek-Segafredo in the fall classics.  Stuyven and Pedersen both line up again Sunday for the GP d’Isbergues and will hope to add to Trek-Segafredo’s tally.

“The spring was really good for me,” added Pedersen, who finished second in the Tour of Flanders, “and then I had some bad luck in the BinckBank Tour and in the past few weeks, but now it is looking like a good late season.”

Complete Results:

206 kilometers raced at an average speed of 41.597 km/hr

1 PEDERSEN Mads Trek-Segafredo 4hr 57min 8sec
2 DRUCKER Jempy BMC s.t.
3 NAESEN Oliver Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
4 PHILIPSEN Jasper Hagens Berman-Axeon s.t.
5 BENOOT Tiesj Lotto-Soudal s.t.
6 RICKAERT Jonas Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise s.t.
7 VAN RENSBURG Reinardt Dimension Data s.t.
8 VAN SCHIP Jan-Willem Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
9 KIRSCH Alex WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic s.t.
10 STUYVEN Jasper Trek-Segafredo @ 8sec
11 GREIPEL André Lotto-Soudal 0:11
12 DUPONT Timothy Wanty-Gobert s.t.
13 DAINESE Alberto SEG Racing Academy s.t.
14 GROENEWEGEN Dylan LottoNL-Jumbo s.t.
15 MEEUS Jordi SEG Racing Academy s.t.
16 VAN GENECHTEN Jonas Vital Concept s.t.
17 SELIG Rüdiger Bora-hansgrohe s.t.
18 WELTEN Bram Fortuneo-Samsic s.t.
19 ASSELMAN Jesper Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
20 VERMEULEN Emiel Roubaix-Lille Metropole s.t.
21 DEGENKOLB John Trek-Segafredo s.t.
22 VANBILSEN Kenneth Cofidis s.t.
23 VAN DER LIJKE Nick Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
24 ŠIŠKEVIČIUS Evaldas Delko-Marseille Provence s.t.
25 REINDERS Elmar Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
26 GIBBONS Ryan Dimension Data s.t.
27 BOHLI Tom BMC s.t.
28 MARTINELLI Davide Quick-Step Floors s.t.
29 HONORÉ Mikkel Quick-Step Floors s.t.
30 FARAZIJN Maxime Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise s.t.
31 VAN VUCHELEN Tom AGO-Aqua Service s.t.
32 GAVIRIA Fernando Quick-Step Floors s.t.
33 DE BONDT Dries Vérandas Willems-Crelan s.t.
34 VANDENBERGH Stijn Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
35 DELTOMBE Kevin Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise s.t.
36 VAN LERBERGHE Bert Cofidis s.t.
37 SWIFT Connor Dimension Data s.t.
38 ALLEGAERT Piet Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise s.t.
39 BARCELÓ Fernando Euskadi-Murias s.t.
40 VERMOTE Julien Dimension Data s.t.
41 VAN DER HOORN Taco Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
42 DEHAES Kenny WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic s.t.
43 MAES Nikolas Lotto-Soudal s.t.
44 MADOUAS Valentin Groupama-FDJ s.t.
45 PETIT Adrien Direct Energie s.t.
46 VAN GOETHEM Brian Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
47 KREDER Wesley Wanty-Gobert s.t.
48 BENEDETTI Cesare Bora-hansgrohe s.t.
49 DÉMARE Arnaud Groupama-FDJ s.t.
50 PICHOT Alexandre Direct Energie s.t.
51 RIESEBEEK Oscar Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij s.t.
52 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas Groupama-FDJ s.t.
53 PLANCKAERT Edward Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise s.t.
54 KEUKELEIRE Jens Lotto-Soudal s.t.
55 ISTA Kevyn WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic s.t.
56 SKAARSETH Anders Cofidis s.t.
57 DE BUYST Jasper Lotto-Soudal s.t.
58 VAN HOECKE Gijs LottoNL-Jumbo 0:26
59 BACKAERT Frederik Wanty-Gobert 0:29
60 REX Laurenz AGO-Aqua Service 0:32
61 KOOISTRA Marten SEG Racing Academy 0:41
62 DE WINTER Ludwig WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic 0:47
63 COMBAUD Romain Delko-Marseille Provence s.t.
64 JONES Brenton Delko-Marseille Provence s.t.
65 MAINARD Jérôme Roubaix-Lille Metropole s.t.
66 BARBIER Pierre Roubaix-Lille Metropole s.t.
67 MARTENS Paul LottoNL-Jumbo s.t.
68 LEROUX Samuel Roubaix-Lille Metropole s.t.
69 VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan BMC s.t.
70 THWAITES Scott Dimension Data s.t.
71 BROWN Jonny Hagens Berman-Axeon s.t.
72 MORICE Julien Vital Concept s.t.
73 PRODHOMME Nicolas Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
74 WYNANTS Maarten LottoNL-Jumbo s.t.
75 GARRISON Ian Hagens Berman-Axeon s.t.
76 OLIVEIRA Rui Hagens Berman-Axeon s.t.
77 KENNAUGH Peter Bora-hansgrohe s.t.
78 CAPIOT Amaury Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise 1:27
79 DECLERCQ Tim Quick-Step Floors s.t.
80 SPENGLER Lukas WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic s.t.
81 GOLDSTEIN Roy Israel Cycling Academy s.t.
82 WYSS Danilo BMC s.t.
83 DUVAL Julien Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
84 SELLIER Simon Direct Energie s.t.
85 SINKELDAM Ramon Groupama-FDJ s.t.
86 COQUARD Bryan Vital Concept s.t.
87 JAUREGUI Quentin Ag2r La Mondiale s.t.
88 MARTINEZ Yannick Delko-Marseille Provence 3:34
89 ANTUNES Tiago SEG Racing Academy s.t.
90 THOMSON Jay Robert Dimension Data s.t.
91 TAMINIAUX Lionel AGO-Aqua Service s.t.
92 VANSPEYBROUCK Pieter Wanty-Gobert 5:14
93 DERNIES Tom Roubaix-Lille Metropole s.t.
94 DE WINTER Gordon AGO-Aqua Service s.t.
95 ROSSETTO Stéphane Cofidis s.t.
96 DEBUY Anthony AGO-Aqua Service s.t.
97 VAN WINDEN Dennis Israel Cycling Academy s.t.
98 OLIVIER Daan LottoNL-Jumbo s.t.
99 DEVOLDER Stijn Vérandas Willems-Crelan s.t.
100 ARISTI Mikel Euskadi-Murias s.t.
101 VAN MELSEN Kevin Wanty-Gobert s.t.
102 JENSEN August Israel Cycling Academy s.t.
103 DE KORT Koen Trek-Segafredo s.t.
104 MOTTIER Justin Vital Concept s.t.
105 LAUK Karl Patrick Fortuneo-Samsic s.t.
106 CARDIS Romain Direct Energie s.t.
107 EVANS Alexander BMC s.t.

Course map:

Eurometropole map

Start list, September 20, 2018:

  FORTUNEO-SAMSIC
DS: Yvon Ledanois
1 RUSSO Clement
2 GERARD Arnaud
3 JARRIER Benoit
4 DANIEL Maxime
5 SVENDGAARD Michael
6 VACHON Florian
7 WELTEN Bram
AG2R LA MONDIALE
DS: Laurent Biondi
11 BARBIER Rudy
12 DUMOULIN Samuel
13 DUVAL Julien
14 JAUREGUI Quentin
15 NAESEN Oliver
16 VANDENBERGH Stijn
17 PRODHOMME Nicolas
BMC
DS: Valerio Piva
21 BOHLI Tom
22 DRUCKER Jean Pierre
23 OVETT Freddy
24 ROELANDTS Jurgen
25 VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan
26 VLIEGEN Loïc
27 WYSS Danilo
BORA-HANSGROHE
DS: Jens Zemke
31 ACKERMANN Pascal
32 BASKA Erik
33 BENEDETTI Cesare
34 KENNAUGH Peter
35 PFINGSTEN Christoph
36 SCHILLINGER Andreas
37 SELIG Rüdiger
GROUPAMA-FDJ
DS: Frederic Guedon
41 DEMARE Arnaud
42 GUARNIERI Jacopo
43 HOELGAARD Daniel
44 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas
45 LE GAC Olivier
46 MADOUAS Valentin
47 SINKELDAM Ramon
LOTTO-SOUDAL
DS: Bart Leysen
51 LAMBRECHT Bjorg
52 DE BUYST Jasper
53 SIEBERG Marcel
54 GREIPEL André
55 KEUKELEIRE Jens
56 BENOOT Tiesj
57 MAES Nikolas
QUICK-STEP FLOORS
DS: Rik van Slycke
61 DECLERCQ Tim
62 GAVIRIA Fernando
63 HONORÉ Mikkel
64 KEISSE Iljo
65 MARTINELLI Davide
66 RICHEZE Ariel
67 SENECHAL Florian
DIMENSION DATA
DS: Rolf Aldag
71 SWIFT Connor
72 VERMOTE Julien
73 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt
74 THOMSON Jay Robert
75 THWAITES Scott
76 GIBBONS Ryan
77 DOUGALL Nick
LOTTO NL-JUMBO
DS: Frans Maassen
81 GROENEWEGEN Dylan
82 VAN HOECKE Gijs
83 JANSEN Amund
84 MARTENS Paul
86 WAGNER Robert
87 WYNANTS Maarten
TREK-SEGAFREDO
DS: Steven de Jongh
91 CONCI Nicola
92 DE KORT Koen
93 DEGENKOLB John
94 GUERREIRO Ruben
95 NIZZOLO Giacomo
96 PEDERSEN Mads
97 STUYVEN Jasper
COFIDIS
DS: ?
101 BOUHANNI Nacer
102 CHETOUT Loïc
103 ROSSETTO Stéphane
104 VANBILSEN Kenneth
105 VAN LERBERGHE Bert
106 VAN STAEYEN Michael
107 SKAARSETH Anders
DELKO-MARSEILLE PROVENCE
DS: Andy Flickinger
111 COMBAUD Romain
112 JONES Brenton
113 LEVEAU Jérémy
114 MARTINEZ Yannick
115 SISKEVICIUS Evaldas
116 SMUKULIS Gatis
117 TRARIEUX Julien
DIRECT ENERGIE
DS: Benoit Genauzeau
121 CARDIS Romain
122 GAUDIN Damien
123 GENE Yohann
124 PETIT Adrien
125 PICHOT Alexandre
126 SELLIER Simon
127 TULIK Angelo
EUSKADI-MURIAS
DS: David Echavarri
131 BARTHE Cyril
132 ARISTI Mikel
133 BARCELÓ Fernando
134 IRIZAR Julen
135 SAMITIER Sergio
136 SANZ Enrique
137 RODRIGUEZ Sergio
HAGENS BERMAN-AXEON
DS: Koos Moerenhout
141 BROWN Jonny
142 GARRISON Ian
143 OLIVEIRA Rui
144 PHILIPSEN Jasper
145 RICE Michael
146 ZIJLAARD Maikel
147 ALMEIDA João
ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY
DS: Eric van Lancker
151 BOIVIN Guillaume
152 GOLDSTEIN Omer
153 JENSEN August
154 RÄIM Mihkel
155 SAGIV Guy
156 SCHREURS Hamish
157 VAN WINDEN Dennis
ROOMPOT-NEDERLANDSE LOTERIJ
DS: Erik Breukink
161 ASSELMAN Jesper
162 VAN GINNEKEN Sjoerd
163 VAN SCHIP Jan Willem
164 REINDERS Elmar
165 VAN GOETHEM Brian
166 VAN DER HOORN Taco
167 VAN DER LIJKE Nick
SPORT VLAANDEREN-BALOISE
DS: ?
171 ALLEGAERT Piet
172 CAPIOT Amaury
173 FARAZIJN Maxime
174 DELTOMBE Kevin
175 PLANCKAERT Edward
176 RICKAERT Jonas
177 VAN HECKE Preben
VERANDA'S WILLEMS-CRELAN
DS: Michiel Elijzen
181 DE BIE Sean
182 DE BONDT Dries
183 DEVOLDER Stijn
184 DUYN Huub
185 LIVYNS Arjen
186 STEELS Stijn
187 WAEYTENS Zico
VITAL CONCEPT
DS: Gilles Pauchard
191 COQUARD Bryan
192 GAREL Adrien
193 LAMMERTINK Steven
194 LECROQ Jérémy
195 MORICE Julien
196 MOTTIER Justin
197 VAN GENECHTEN Jonas
WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT
DS: Hilaire Van der Schueren
201 BACKAERT Frederik
202 DEVRIENDT Tom
203 DUPONT Timothy
204 KREDER Wesley
205 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume
206 VAN MELSEN Kevin
207 VANSPEYBROUCK Pieter
WB-VERANCLASSIC-AQUA PROTECT
DS: Olivier Kaisen
211 DEHAES Kenny
212 DE WINTER Ludwig
213 DELFOSSE Sébastien
214 ISTA Kevin
215 JULES Justin
216 KIRSCH Alex
217 SPENGLER Lukas
AGO-AQUA SERVICE
DS: Jean Denis Vandenbroucke
221 VAN VUCHELEN Tom
222 DEBUY Anthony
223 DE WINTER Gordon
224 ARIMONT Charlie
225 FREHEN Jérémy
226 REX Laurens
227 TAMINIAUX Lionel
ROUBAIX-LILLE METROPOLE
DS: Frederic Delcambre
231 BARBIER Pierre
232 JOLY Thomas
233 LEROUX Samuel
234 MAINARD Jérôme
235 DERNIES Tom
236 SEYNAEVE Lander
237 VERMEULEN Emiel
SEG RACING ACADEMY
DS: Michel Cornelisse
241 BOL Cees
242 HOOLE Daan
243 DAINESE Alberto
244 STAVRAKAKIS Georgios
245 MEEUS Jordi
246 ANTUNES Tiago
247 KOOISTRA Maarten