Without too much trouble Arnaud Démare (FDJ) finished the job today as he comfortably won the 4 Days of Dunkerque, despite missing out on the sprint at the end of the final stage between Estaires and Dunkerque.
Showing blistering form and continuing the unrivalled FDJ supremacy in French races during the spring, the 21-year-old Frenchman set the race on fire as he won stages one, two and three of the five day race. On the final stage on Sunday Démare was unable to add to his already impressive tally as he found himself surrounded at the finish as his team tired after chasing down a break from Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale), Chun Kai Feng (Champion System) and David Le Lay (Sojasun).
In fact, all the sprinters were caught out by a powerful surge from Yannick Martinez (La Pomme Marseille), who snatched victory from under their noses by breaking clear with 300 metres to go and managing to hold off the chase to take the stage.
In the sprinters’ chase to reel in Martinez in the final metres Matthias Friedemann (Champion System) took second place, with Mathieu Drujon (BigMat-Auber 93) third.
Although he missed out on the sprint finish Démare finished in the same time as the winner and comfortably held on to his general classification lead and win the race overall.
Result stage 5:
1. Yannick Martinez (Fra) La Pomme Marseille
2. Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System
3. Mathieu Drujon (Fra) BigMat-Auber 93
4. Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis
5. Kenny Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
Final overall standings:
1. Arnaud Démare (Fra) FDJ
2. Florian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne-Séché Environment
3. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Argos-Shimano 26"
4. Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun
5. Armindo Fonseca (Fra) Bretagne Séché Environment 30"
09.05: Circuit de Wallonie |
11.05: GP de la Ville d'Oran |
11.05: Jelajah Cycling Series Surakarta |
11.05: Silesian Classic |
11.05: Tour du Finistère |
08.05 - 12.05: Flèche du Sud |
08.05 - 12.05: Tour de Hongrie |
09.05 - 12.05: Vuelta a Catamarca Internacion... |
10.05 - 12.05: Itzulia Women |
10.05 - 12.05: Tour de Kumano |
Quinn SIMMONS 23 years | today |
Bruno Oliveira Fernando TABANES 39 years | today |
Bradley VIERA 39 years | today |
Jonathan DINKLER 29 years | today |
Debora SILVESTRI 26 years | today |
© CyclingQuotes.com