A strong team performance, but a disappointing outcome
# Strong Efforts Fall Short at E3 Saxo Classic for Groupama-FDJ United
The “Holy Week” of Belgian cycling kicked off this Friday with the E3 Saxo Classic, a pivotal prelude to the Tour of Flanders. Despite putting up a valiant fight, Groupama-FDJ United faced disappointment as they sent Bastien Tronchon into an early breakaway, which held until the Oude Kwaremont—approximately forty kilometers from the finish line. Ultimately, star cyclist Mathieu van der Poel triumphed, leaving Thibaud Gruel to settle for a fifteenth-place finish in the sprint for the remaining podium spots.
As the cobbled fortnight commenced in Harelbeke, nearly all of the Flemish Classics specialists lined up for the race, which featured a challenging 208-kilometre course with sixteen climbs and four cobbled sectors. Key moments came from the Taaienberg, the Paterberg, and the Vieux Quaremont climbs, with Groupama-FDJ United determined to make their mark. Tronchon found himself in the lead after intense early fighting, but it wasn’t until nearly half an hour later that the peloton allowed a breakaway of six riders to form. The escapees established a lead that peaked at 3’30 before the tension in the peloton mounted, especially as they approached the Taaienberg.
Romain Grégoire declared, “I think we were really strong as a team,” highlighting the team’s efforts as they fought to close the gap. Despite the hard work of Tronchon and his escape companions, van der Poel caught them around the Kapelberg, accelerating decisively on the Paterberg. Groupama-FDJ United still had a strong presence in the following peloton, which included Grégoire, Valentin Madouas, and Thibaud Gruel, all of whom hoped to set their sights on the sprint finish.
Despite their collective efforts, including an attempt by Tronchon to launch a counter-offensive, the peloton fell short as van der Poel maintained his advantage solo. Frédéric Guesdon, the team’s director, remarked, “We’re disappointed with the result because I think we rode a good race. The guys feel they deserved a better result…and stepped up but weren’t rewarded.”
As the race neared its conclusion, the peloton managed to close the gap to van der Poel, but failed to catch him. Ultimately, the Dutchman secured victory with a comfortable gap, while Gruel and others attempted to push through for a respectable finish. Grégoire expressed both frustration over the outcome and pride in the team’s execution, stating, “We took our responsibilities. It didn’t necessarily work out in the sprint, but I think we did what we had to do.”
Despite the setbacks, not all hopes are dashed. Guesdon maintained a positive outlook regarding the team’s potential in upcoming races, saying, “It makes us optimistic for what’s next.” Tronchon, recovering from an earlier illness, noted an upward trend in his performance, while Grégoire acknowledged the challenges of the cobbled terrain, being new to this format.
With only a week until the “Ronde” and two until “Hell of the North,” Groupama-FDJ United remains set on building from this experience, absorbing lessons learned as they look ahead in the cycling calendar.
