Démare wins Binche-Chimay-Binche

Arnaud Demare made an important statement of intent ahead of the World Championships with a well-timed and executed victory at Binche-Chimay-Binche.

After Nacer Bouhanni took victory at the Tour de Vendee on Sunday, Demare made his own case for leadership of the French team in Doha next month, outsprinting Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) as a cobbled climb shattered the bunch in the final kilometre.

Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal) finished third, several seconds back, alongside Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), after a quartet emerged on the climb under the impetus of the Olympic champion. Stybar was the only one able to respond when Demare made a long-range bid for victory but, with a slight downhill run to the line, he was never able to get on terms.

"It was a strange sprint – I knew we had a corner before the finish and decided to launch my sprint going into the corner," said Demare. "The team worked really well and I knew I was in good shape."

Having been named alongside Bouhanni in the French Worlds team, with tensions long having existed between the pair, Demare picked a good time to collect his first victory since June's Route du Sud.

"We're both in good form, both have good legs at the moment. We'll see what happens, but I think we'll work well together," said Demare diplomatically.

The 29th edition of Binche-Chimay-Binche, the Belgian race first held in 1911, featured a relatively benign out-and-back route to and from Chimay, with the racing coming to the boil on the four laps of a 16km finishing circuit.

Lars Bak (Lotto Soudal) and Vegard Stake Laengen (IAM) formed a two-up breakaway and stayed away until the start of the final lap, where the attacks began to kick off in earnest in the bunch.

A seven-man move, made up of Jens Debuscherre (Lotto Soudal), Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep), Marco Marcato (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Jempy Drucker (BMC), Oliver Naesen (IAM), Preben Van Hecke (Topsprot Vlaanderen-Baloise), and Huub Duijn (Roompot), looked dangerous with a small gap for a while, but a lack of commitment saw it come to nought.

With six kilometres to go Cofidis' Kenneth Van Bilsen went for an optimistic solo effort but he was soon caught, and the bunch would enter the final kilometre all together.

Van Avermaet, keen not to let it come down to a mass sprint, took command on the cobbles and drove the pace, and by the top a quartet had formed, with Demare, Stybar, and Roelandts in attendance. The Olympic champion's legs were still reeling from the climb, and only Stybar could react when Demare pinged off from range.

With a slight downhill ahead of the line, Stybar was never able to get back on terms and Demare punched the air in what will be a big boost to the confidence.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ4:32:28
2Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:02
4Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Amaury Capiot (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:04
6Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 6 - Cell 2
8Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 8 - Cell 2
10Oliver Naesen (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 9 - Cell 2
11Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 10 - Cell 2
12Aksel Nõmmela (Est) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 11 - Cell 2
13Alexander Krieger (Ger) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 13 - Cell 2
15Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 15 - Cell 2
17Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 16 - Cell 2
18Borut Bozic (Slo) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 17 - Cell 2
19Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 18 - Cell 2
20Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:10
21Jimmy Duquennoy (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 20 - Cell 2
22Arjen Livyns (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Gert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:13
24Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 23 - Cell 2
25John Mandrysch (Ger) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 24 - Cell 2
26Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 25 - Cell 2
27Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 26 - Cell 2
28Kevin Ista (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 27 - Cell 2
29Joeri Calleeuw (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Tom Dernies (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 30 - Cell 2
32Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 31 - Cell 2
33Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:00:16
34Tim Kerkhof (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 33 - Cell 2
35Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group Protect0:00:18
36Floris Gerfs (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Gordon De Winter (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beefRow 36 - Cell 2
38Reinier Honig (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 37 - Cell 2
39Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 38 - Cell 2
40Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 39 - Cell 2
41Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) FDJRow 40 - Cell 2
42Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 41 - Cell 2
43Jan Brockhoff (Ger) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 42 - Cell 2
44Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling0:00:23
45Niels De Rooze (Bel) VER0:00:25
46Loic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Brecht Dhaene (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 47 - Cell 2
49Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 48 - Cell 2
50Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 49 - Cell 2
51Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 50 - Cell 2
52Sam Lennertz (Bel) VERRow 51 - Cell 2
53Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) VERRow 52 - Cell 2
54Christophe Masson (Fra) VERRow 53 - Cell 2
55Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 54 - Cell 2
56Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Marco Tizza (Ita) d'Amico BottecchiaRow 56 - Cell 2
58Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:33
59Axel Flet (Fra) VER0:00:36
60Frantisek Sisr (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 59 - Cell 2
61Huub Duyn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 60 - Cell 2
62Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 61 - Cell 2
63Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 62 - Cell 2
64Michel Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton0:00:41
65Olivier Chevalier (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 64 - Cell 2
66Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:43
67Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 66 - Cell 2
68Ludwig De Winter (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 67 - Cell 2
69Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 68 - Cell 2
70Maximilien Picoux (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beefRow 69 - Cell 2
71Steven Tronet (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 70 - Cell 2
72Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 71 - Cell 2
73Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 72 - Cell 2
74Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:47
75Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:52
76Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 75 - Cell 2
77Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 76 - Cell 2
78William Bonnet (Fra) FDJRow 77 - Cell 2
79Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJRow 78 - Cell 2
80Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:56
81Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:59
82Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:01
83Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 82 - Cell 2
84Iljo Keisse (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 83 - Cell 2
85Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step0:01:03
86Davide Martinelli (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 85 - Cell 2
87Jonathan Dufrasne (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 86 - Cell 2
88Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 87 - Cell 2
89Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) FDJRow 88 - Cell 2
90Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:06
91Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team0:01:10
92Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 91 - Cell 2
93Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) IAM CyclingRow 92 - Cell 2
94Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:27
95Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:01:35
96Simon Sellier (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:42
97Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step0:01:57
98Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling Team0:02:08
99Kenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:02:17
100Sondre Holst Enger (Nor) IAM Cycling0:02:21
101Dorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:03:46
102Camille Guerin (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:04:11
103Antoine Loy (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beef0:04:44
104Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ0:05:37
105Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 104 - Cell 2
106Zhi Hui Jiang (Chn) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 105 - Cell 2
107Julien Mortier (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beefRow 106 - Cell 2
108Alexis Caresmel (Fra) VERRow 107 - Cell 2
109Julien Morice (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 108 - Cell 2
110Iltjan Nika (Alb) d'Amico Bottecchia0:07:06
111Hugo De Winter (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beef0:07:09
112Taylor Eisenhart (USA) BMC Racing Team0:07:33
113Auxence Buntinx (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental Wallon0:07:53
114Matthias Legley (Bel) VER0:07:57
115Giorgio Bocchiola (Ita) d'Amico Bottecchia0:07:59
116Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Soudal0:08:03
117Jef Van Meirhaeghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:08:56
118Thomas Petit (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental Wallon0:10:20
119Maxime Vekeman (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFFabian Lienhard (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFThomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Fournier (Fra) FDJRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno Hofland (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFMarlon Gaillard (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Guillemois (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFAngelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFBoris Vallee (Bel) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFJustin Mottier (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Farazijn (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFCharlie Arimont (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beefRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Palm (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beefRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMarvin Tasset (Bel) Color Code - Arden'beefRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFTim De Troyer (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Delvaux (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFDylan Bodchon (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Haag (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Toubeau (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFVictor Van Bost (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFArnaud Voss (Bel) VERRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFCarmelo Foti (Ita) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFFabio Silvestre (Por) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Van Den Bak (Bel) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFFabio Chinello (Ita) d'Amico BottecchiaRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFPaolo Ciavatta (Ita) d'Amico BottecchiaRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Genovese (Ita) d'Amico BottecchiaRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFPietro Di Genova (Ita) d'Amico BottecchiaRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Parrinello (Ita) d'Amico BottecchiaRow 147 - Cell 2

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Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is an NCTJ-trained journalist, and former deputy editor of Cyclingnews, who has seven years’ experience covering professional cycling. He has a modern languages degree from Durham University and has been able to put it to some use in what is a multi-lingual sport, with a particular focus on French and Spanish-speaking riders. Away from cycling, Patrick spends most of his time playing or watching other forms of sport - football, tennis, trail running, darts, to name a few, but he draws the line at rugby.


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