Tour de Dunkirk: A Frenchman takes the lead

Tour de Dunkirk: A Frenchman takes the lead

Winner Thursday of the 3rd stage of the Tour de Dunkerque, disputed in the form of an individual time trial, Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) endorsed the leader’s jersey at the same time, with 14 seconds ahead of the Dane Kasper Asgreen.

A French leader hunts another on the 4 Days of Dunkirk. The day after Samuel Leroux (Van Rysel-Roubaix Lille Métropole) took over on the evening of the 2nd stage (won by another Frenchman, Romain Grégoire), another Frenchman donned the leader’s jersey on Thursday. This is Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), winner of the 3rd stage, contested in the form of an individual time trial of 15.9 km around Saint-Quentin. The double champion of France in the specialty (in 2019 and 2021), who had made a name for himself on the track before landing in the peloton, at the price in particular of his five titles of world champion (of the omnium in 2017 and 2020, the American in 2017 and 2022 and the race for points in 2021) or even his six continental titles (in 2014, 2021 and 2022 on points, in 2017 for the American and in 2019 and 2023 for the omnium) individually, not to mention three team pursuits (2016, 2017 and 2022), was once again the fastest in his favorite exercise.

Grégoire at the foot of the new podium

The Tarnais, who had not yet lifted his arms this season, covered the nearly 16 kilometers in 19’21. Thomas, who had signed his first victory among professionals on these same 4 Days of Dunkirk, beat two Danes Niklas Larsen (Uno-X Pro) and Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step), respectively by 9 and 14 seconds. Romain Grégoire, second Frenchman, had to settle for 10th place, 31 seconds behind his compatriot. He fell to 4th place in the general classification (he was 3rd Thursday morning), 21 seconds behind Thomas, who was 11 seconds behind before this 3rd stage on Leroux and is now ahead of Asgreen by 14 seconds and the Briton Ethan Vernon. (Soudal-Quick Step) of 20 seconds on the eve of the 4th stage, Friday between Maubeuge and Achicourt (173.8 km). But the hardest part will come on Saturday, with a stage that is still eagerly awaited, in the cobblestone mountains of Cassel.

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