Alec Segaert avenges the bitter ending of yesterday at the Nokere Koerse, where he was caught in the final 100 meters by the peloton, forcefully claiming the Grand Prix de Denain 2026. Once again the Belgian from Bahrain-Victorious chose the option of attacking from far out, but this time, unlike what happened 24 hours earlier, he successfully brought his action to completion, resisting the peloton's comeback in the final stretch, which was then beaten by Milan Menten (Lotto-Intermarchè) ahead of Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).

The two attacks launched by Segaert at the -45 kilometers mark and at the -2500 meters from the finish line proved decisive in securing his third professional victory. Through the first attack, Segaert (who hadn't won a race since the time trial at the Renewi Tour in August 2024) managed to break away alongside Per Strand Hagenes (Visma Lease a Bike) and, with him, remained in command of the race until the final kilometers when, after containing the Norwegian's acceleration at the -10 km mark while maintaining a distance of about fifty meters from him, with the second attack he jumped his rival and flew solo toward a victory that amply compensates for the disappointment suffered at Nokere a day earlier.

There was nothing to be done for the peloton's sprinters who, having regained unity and strength after the final cobbled section, did manage to whittle down almost all of the advantage still held by the day's hero with their teammates, but in the end had to settle for sprinting for the minor placings with both Menten and Turgis managing to climb the podium, achieving their best result so far this season.

From an Italian perspective, while there were no riders capable of finishing in the top ten, the performances of the two twenty-two-year-olds from XDS-Astana Alessio Delle Vedove and Alessandro Romele deserve mention, who respectively animated the morning breakaway and inserted themselves into the group that from the -19 to -5 kilometers attempted in vain to close the gap on the two leaders, managing to put on a brilliant display.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Alec Segaert (BEL/Bahrain-Victorious) - 4:21:23

2. Milan Menten (BEL/Lotto-Intermarchè) at 0:02

3. Anthony Turgis (FRA/TotalEnergies) at 0:02

4. Henri Uhlig (GER/Alpecin-Premier Tech) at 0:02

5. Axel Zingle (FRA/Visma-Lease a Bike) at 0:02

6. Arne Marit (BEL/Red Bull-Bora) at 0:02

7. Axel Huens (FRA/Groupama-FDJ United) at 0:02

8. Jenthe Biermans (BEL/Cofidis) at 0:02

9. Tibor del Grosso (OLA/Alpecin-Premier Tech) at 0:02

10. Gianluca Pollefliet (BEL/Decathlon-CMA CGM) at 0:02