Axel Huens takes seventh in the “mini-Paris-Roubaix”

# Axel Huens Shines with Seventh-Place Finish at Grand Prix de Denain

In an impressive display of resilience, Axel Huens secured a seventh-place finish at the Grand Prix de Denain, often dubbed the “mini-Paris-Roubaix,” this Thursday. Competing in familiar cobblestoned territory, Huens demonstrated his competitive spirit after being involved in the race’s key moments, ultimately leading his Groupama-FDJ United team to another top-10 finish in as many days.

As riders prepared for the upcoming “Hell of the North,” the Grand Prix de Denain featured a rigorous course laden with 23 kilometers of cobblestones spread across 13 sectors, with the real challenges commencing 90 kilometers from the finish line. “It was a long fight to form the breakaway,” noted Frédéric Guesdon, the team director. He acknowledged the early efforts of riders Titouan and Bastien, although it was Blake who successfully joined an initial move of eight, setting the stage for the race’s intensity.

The nervous atmosphere escalated when Groupama-FDJ United lost Matteo Milan to a crash prior to the cobblestone segments. “Positioning is never easy before the first sectors because everyone wants to be at the front,” Guesdon explained. Fortunately, Axel Huens and teammate Thibaud managed to maintain their places within the peloton.

As the race unfolded, Huens responded well to the first accelerations and engaged in an attempt to break away around 65 kilometers from the finish. Despite his efforts, the peloton reformed just before the pivotal cobblestone sectors, particularly during sector 7 from Maing to Quérénaing, where the dynamics of the race drastically shifted.

“Axel was well positioned and made the effort to get back on,” Guesdon described. However, during this segment, Huens found himself slightly outpaced by competitors like Per Strand Hagenes. Despite this setback, Huens remained alert to the evolving race situation and stayed in contention.

The pace quickened as the race progressed, with both Huens and Thibaud involved in escaping tactics, yet they fell short of forming a lasting breakaway. A counterattack by their rivals during a critical moment left Guesdon’s team playing catch-up, ultimately leading to a situation where they had to sacrifice teammate Cyril for the chase.

With about 10 kilometers left, the leading duo of Segaert and Hagenes established a significant gap, while the remaining peloton surged to catch up. Unfortunately, disaster struck for Thibaud as he crashed with just three kilometers to go, leaving Huens as Groupama-FDJ United’s sole representative in the sprint for the finish.

Despite the challenges faced, Huens managed to secure a commendable seventh place, finishing just two seconds behind the peloton’s sprint for minor placings. Guesdon remarked positively on Huens’ performance, stating, “It’s a good result—he rode the race he had to and finished where he belongs. He confirms he’s an important part of this group.”

While the team celebrated Huens’ achievement, there was an element of disappointment regarding Thibaud’s crash. “Without his crash, we might have had two riders in the top 10,” reflected Guesdon. Nonetheless, Huens’ performance has set a promising tone for the Bredene Koksijde Classic on Friday, maintaining the momentum for Groupama-FDJ United as they navigate this challenging stretch of the season.