Senechal wins Le Samyn
Another win for Deceuninck-Quickstep
Florian Sénéchal continued Deceuninck-QuickStep’s streak of success in the early Belgian races, winning the Le Samyn race with a well-executed sprint finish after a tactical and aggressive race.
It was the Frenchman’s first professional victory and the 14th victory of the 2019 season for Deceuninck-QuickStep.
Sénéchal was part of the decisive 10-rider attack that formed on the last lap and then won the sprint after teammate Tim Declercq was pulled back in sight of the line.
Lars Boom (Roompot-Charles) stated the sprint early but Sénéchal was able to match his speed and come past him before the finish line.
Aimé De Gendt (Wanty-Groupe-Gobert) finished second, with Niki Terpstra (Direct Energie) third after trying to split the group in the final kilometres.
Zdenek Stybar won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and then Bob Jungels won Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on Sunday. Deceuninck-QuickStep opted to rest its bigger name riders during the week, giving Sénéchal the chance to take his first victory after six years as a professional rider.
"In previous years I did too much too early but this time I really waited for the finale. My teammates worked all day and I owe them a lot. We really worked well. In the end, I had a good sprint, I felt strong, even if Lars Boom was also strong. But he went too early, and I came back," Sénéchal explained happily.
"Terpstra was really strong. I knew he's a shrewd rider and was waiting for the finale - Boom as well. I attacked on the final sector and the three of us went clear - the three strongest. Then it came back and Tim did an amazing job.
"You're never sure of yourself in a sprint, especially when it goes from so far out, but in the end, it was decided à la pédale and I'm super happy to win it."
The 198.4km race is held in the French-speaking of southern Belgium and includes a series of climbs on a loop north toward Flanders and then four laps of a 25km circuit that includes climbs, exposed roads and four sections of cobbles.
The weather was overcast and grey, with early rain adding to the difficulties.
Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), Tom Dernies (Roubaix Lille Métropole) and Gianni Marchand (Cibel-Cebon) found the courage to form the early break with Deceuninck-QuickStep accepting responsibility to lead the chase in the hills and onto the four circuits.
Crashes on the cobbles caused some problems and splits in the peloton but they pulled back the early move. However, the riders were aggressive and another trio went away with 70km to go. Terpstra and his Direct Energie teammates were determined to leave their mark on the race and went on the attack in the crosswinds despite 60km to race. That reduced the front group to just 20 or so riders, with only another 20 getting back on.
Aimé De Gendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Pieter Serry (Deceuninck-QuickStep) were the next to attack, with other riders jumping across on the pave as the riders covered the 25km circuits and tasted the cobbles, concrete roads, exposed roads and narrow lanes that make Belgian races so special.
With a lap remaining, Elmar Reinders and Jesper Asselman (Roompot-Charles), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R La Mondiale), Rémy Mertz (Lotto-Soudal) and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quick Step) joined De Gendt and Serry in what looked like the decisive move.
The Israel Cycling Academy team first tried to close the gap and then Terpstra and his teammates took charge of their destiny. After a high-speed surge, the Dutchman jumped across to the break on the Roquette section of cobbles. Only Boom and Sénéchal could stay with him, making for ten riders up front: Vandenbergh, Declercq, Serry, Sénéchal, Boom, Asselman, Reinders, Terpstra, Mertz and De Gendt.
With three riders from Roompot and three from Deceuninck-Quick Step, they were forced to drag the group along as the others tried different attacks. It was pure Belgian racing, with Terpstra tying to attack on the cobbles with Sénéchal quick to chase after him.
Sénéchal, Boom, and Terpstra exited the final sector of cobbles with a decent lead but De Gendt jumped across and then so did Declercq. Boom tried another surge on the climb back into Dour for the finish but was marked carefully. Declercq was given more space, as the others looked at each other and managed to open a gap. His move forced Deceuninck-Quick Step's rivals to chase and helped Sénéchal, who was confident of his sprint.
Declercq looked set to stay away as the flame rouge arrived but other riders came up from behind to help with the chase and he was suddenly within reaching distance.
Boom opened up the sprint as they passed Declercq and Terpstra made sure he was tucked on his wheel. However, the Dutchmen went too early and had too little in their legs. Sénéchal managed to match them and beat them before the line, taking an emotional first win of his professional career.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Florian Senechal (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 4:38:20 |
2 | Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Niki Terpstra (Ned) Direct Energie | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Lars Boom (Ned) Roompot-Charles | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:01 |
6 | Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Tim Declercq (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:06 |
8 | Elmar Reinders (Ned) Roompot-Charles | 0:00:08 |
9 | Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot-Charles | 0:00:14 |
10 | Remy Mertz (Bel) Lotto Soudal | 0:00:19 |
11 | Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles | 0:00:54 |
12 | Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Jelle Mannaerts (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex | 0:01:02 |
14 | Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy | 0:01:10 |
15 | Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Loïc Vliegen (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:01:17 |
19 | Tom Dernies (Bel) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Dries De Bondt (Bel) Corendon-Circus | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Direct Energie | 0:01:23 |
22 | Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Cycling Academy | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Bagdonas Gediminas (Ltu) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Lawrence Naesen (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Josip Rumac (Cro) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Dorian Godon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | James Fouche (NZl) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Sjoerd van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot-Charles | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Jan Maas (Ned) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Senne Leysen (Bel) Roompot-Charles | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Kevyn Ista (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Stan Dewulf (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Alan Banaszek (Pol) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Roy Jans (Bel) Corendon-Circus | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Alexander Krieger (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:01:31 |
43 | Stijn Devolder (Bel) Corendon-Circus | 0:01:36 |
44 | Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:01:51 |
45 | Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct Energie | 0:02:02 |
46 | Timothy Stevens (Bel) Cibel | 0:02:21 |
47 | Jack Burke (Can) Leopard Pro Cycling | 0:02:38 |
48 | Mario Spengler (Swi) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Tom Wirtgen (Lux) Wallonie Bruxelles | 0:03:39 |
50 | Thomas Stewart (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Jeroen Pattyn (Bel) Team Differdange Geba | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Gianni Marchand (Bel) Cibel | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | David Boucher (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Bert De Backer (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Arkéa Samsic | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Boris Vallee (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Sebastian Mora Vedri (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Gaëtan Pons (Lux) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Lukas Spengler (Swi) Wallonie Bruxelles | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Emils Liepins (Lat) Wallonie Bruxelles | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Xavier Cañellas Sanchez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Ludwig De Winter (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Joab Schneiter (Swi) IAM Excelsior | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Michiel Dieleman (Bel) Cibel | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Roompot-Charles | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Samuel Leroux (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Dennis Coenen (Bel) Cibel | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling Academy | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Pierre Barbier (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Gabriel Cullaigh (GBr) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Pierre Idjouadiene (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Aurélien Paret Peintre (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Bram Welten (Ned) Arkéa Samsic | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Colin Heiderscheid (Lux) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Conor Dunne (Irl) Israel Cycling Academy | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Jordi Van Dingenen (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Julien Van Den Brande (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex | 0:04:43 |
80 | Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Gobert | 0:05:11 |
81 | Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | 0:06:07 |
82 | Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Corendon-Circus | 0:06:51 |
83 | Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Emiel Vermeulen (Bel) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Peter Williams (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | 0:08:31 |
87 | Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct Energie | 0:09:31 |
88 | Clément Russo (Fra) Arkéa Samsic | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Brian van Goethem (Ned) Lotto Soudal | 0:11:11 |
90 | Marco Tizza (Ita) Amore & Vita-Prodir | 0:11:51 |
91 | Quentin Guex (Swi) IAM Excelsior | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Dylan Page (Swi) IAM Excelsior | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Simon Pellaud (Swi) IAM Excelsior | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Emmanuel Morin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Corendon-Circus | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mattia Viel (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Davide Martinelli (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Deceuninck-QuickStep | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marco Benfatto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Leonardo Fedrigo (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mattia Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Robert Thomas Wagner (Ger) Arkéa Samsic | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa Samsic | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Arkéa Samsic | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alan Riou (Fra) Arkéa Samsic | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | David Gonzalez Lopez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matteo Malucelli (Ita) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mauricio Moreira (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Justin Mottier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julian Varley (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jacob Relaes (Bel) Cibel | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lennert Teugels (Bel) Cibel | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thomas Deruette (Bel) Team Differdange Geba | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Louis Deguide (Bel) Team Differdange Geba | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tom Thill (Lux) Team Differdange Geba | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tiago Da Silva (Lux) Team Differdange Geba | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ivan Centrone (Lux) Team Differdange Geba | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pit Leyder (Lux) Leopard Pro Cycling | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Christophe Masson (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Isaac Mundy (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jacob Hennessy (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jacob Scott (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alex Colman (Bel) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
DNF | George Wood (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
DNF | James Shaw (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Floris Gerts (Ned) Tarteletto-Isorex | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ylber Sefa (Alb) Tarteletto-Isorex | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ben Healy (Irl) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mark Christian (GBr) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Oliver Robinson (GBr) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Robert Scott (GBr) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jacques Sauvagnargues (GBr) Team Wiggins Lecol | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Giacomo Ballabio (Ita) IAM Excelsior | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Martin Schäppi (Swi) IAM Excelsior | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ben Hardy (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maarten van Trijp (Ned) Corendon-Circus | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matthias Brändle (Aut) Israel Cycling Academy | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
DNF | August Jensen (Nor) Israel Cycling Academy | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Stijn Steels (Bel) Roompot-Charles | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 149 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Emiel Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 150 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Aaron Van Poucke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 151 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jordi Warlop (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 152 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marc Fournier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 153 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Cedric Raymackers (Bel) Cibel | Row 154 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Samuele Zoccarato (Ita) IAM Excelsior | Row 155 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Corendon-Circus | Row 156 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maxence Moncassin (Fra) Amore & Vita-Prodir | Row 157 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Stijn De Bock (Bel) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 158 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Robert-Jon McCarthy (Irl) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 159 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Andrew Tennant (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 160 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alex Paton (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes | Row 161 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Federico Nicolas Vivas (Arg) Amore & Vita-Prodir | Row 162 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotel | Row 163 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kaspars Sergis (Lat) Amore & Vita-Prodir | Row 164 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles | Row 165 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Viesturs Luksevics (Lat) Amore & Vita-Prodir | Row 166 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jan-André Freuler (Swi) Amore & Vita-Prodir | Row 167 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita-Prodir | Row 168 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Franklin Six (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles | Row 169 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 170 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Wesley Mol (Ned) Team Differdange Geba | Row 171 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling Academy | Row 172 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Benjamin Declercq (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 173 - Cell 2 |
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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
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