No result for our team despite a solid effort throughout the day.
Paul Magnier came to the start of this year’s Grand Prix de Fourmies as the reigning champion, motivated to be again in contention for victory at the French race which ran its 93rd edition. The course was around 200 kilometers in length, and despite the presence of some small climbs, the sprinters were the big favorites of the day.
Soudal Quick-Step worked tirelessly at the front of the peloton behind the original five-man breakaway, and remained prominent also in the closing kilometers, when some riders tried to derail the sprinters’ plans. They couldn’t do that, but a crash with 400 meters to go managed to change things, as things turned chaotic on the finishing straight.
Paul, who was racing in front of his home fans, got boxed in just before the last corner and couldn’t fight for victory in this race, which was won by Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling). From here, the 22-year-old will travel to Slovakia, where he’ll line up at the start of Okolo Slovenska, an event where last season he took four stages.
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