News – GP de Denain

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Dan McLay wins GP de Denain (UCI 1.HC) with the help of a 55 chainring and a lot of ducking and diving to hold position in a chaotic sprint; Chris Opie was 8th

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News – GP de Denain

(thanks Jean Vantalon)

Britain’s Dan McLay has won the GP de Denain in a bunch gallop making the most of a 55 chainring on a downhill sprint where he made everyone look so slow in comparison.

dany

McLay came from behind in the final 30 metres or less to weave his way through the box he was in and take the victory. Chris Opie was a few lengths adrift in 8th place. The race saw a group of around 60 riders contesting the finish with sprint trains from various squads all doing their best in the finale to position their sprinters and avoid hitting the road furniture.

For some they failed in that and the peloton was split by the crashes as the fast men did their best to hold the wheel of the teammates at the front or duck and dive and not find themselves being swamped and sent to the back. McLay, with the experience of several seasons in Europe now, was one of those who held his nerve and the wheels in front to stay in touch of his rivals before launching himself to winning his biggest race to date.

Dan McLay; “Chuffed to bits to win a crazy sprint in GP Denain! Thanks to all the team . There was a lot of wind and a lot of teams wanted to protect their sprinters in the final in case the wind split the peloton so the road was busy with its entire width filled by the sprinter trains. All I wanted to do was stay at the front. To be honest, I was nervous and I said “do not slow down and do my sprint.”

“I stayed in position and then made a dash for it in the last twenty meters where I it gave everything. Of course I am happy to have won my first of the season and my first 1.HC in Europe. It feels good to open my account, I am a sprinter who loves classics and I hope to be as good in the next races.”

VIDEO (SPRINT AT THE END)

Result
1. Dan McLay
8. Chris Opie
34. Yanto Barker
37. Peter Williams
146. Sam Williams

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