Circuit Franco-Belge 2024

May 29, 2024 Five riders made the break to do five circuits, each time tackling the Cote de Trieu. Their lead was cut in half from 4 minutes between 96KM and 86KM to go. Alpecin-Deceuninck and Intermarché-Wanty were the instigators in the peloton keeping things fast. The last of the break was caught at 60.5KM to go as the peloton were charging back around to the Cote de Trieu. Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility was first to attack over the top of the Cote de Trieu at 55KM to go. Pascal Eenkhoorn of Lotto-Dstny and Jérémy Leveau of Van Rysel-Roubaix caught Abrahamsen which forced Intermarché-Wanty to do the majority of the chasing. Leveau was dropped up the finishing climb of Mont-de-L'Enclus, leaving Eenkhoorn and Abrahamsen to maintain their 30 second advantage. The pair got up to 1 minute but were drawn back in at 25KM to go. It all stayed together from that point until the final ascent of the Cote de Trieu. Over the top with 12KM to go, Lorenzo Rota of Intermarché-Wanty attacked, Sjoerd Bax of UAE got on then Rasmus Tiller of Uno-X Mobility bridged. Lotto-Dstny and Cofidis were forced to chase but the trio had 20 seconds with 7KM to race. They looked spent with 1.5KM to go however and the Mont-de-L'Enclus was still to come. They were caught at the base as the lead out started with Uno-X Mobility and Intermarché-Wanty. Over the top with 200M, there were riders spread across the road on the false flat uphill. Marc Hirschi of UAE looked the likely winner on the inside. Biniam Girmay of Intermarché-Wanty went around the clear but long way. Girmay had enough of a gap to sit up and salute as Hirschi was nipped for second by Axel Zingle of Cofidis.