Bouhanni wins GP de Denain

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Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) won the GP de Denain, using his powerful late kick to dominate the high-speed finish. The Frenchman was well protected by his FDJ.fr teammates in the long straight run-in to the finish and then jumped on the right side of the road to open a gap and win by a bike length.

Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling) and Francesco Chicchi (Nero Sottoli-Yellow Fluo) finished second and third, with Kenny van Hummel (Androni Giocattoli) was a close fourth.

It was Bouhanni's fifth victory of the 2014 season.

The race was shaped by a six-rider breakaway but some hard chasing by the Europcar team kept them under control as the French squad rode to set up Olympic Omnium champion Bryan Coquard. However he failed to emerge in the sprint, finishing outside the top ten.

The six adventurers were Antonino Parinello (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela), Pierre Luc Perrichon (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Giorgio Cecchinel (Neri Sottoli-Yellow Fluo), Federik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Thomas Rostollan (Team La Pomme Marseille) and Jonathan Dufrasne (Wallonie-Bruxelles).

They attacked after a kilometre and had a 3:30 lead after 90km. However the gap fell gradually and the break split with 50km to go. Parinello and Dufrasne kept going and fought to stay clear but they were swept up with 18km to go after some massive turns on the front by an on-form Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar).

A late corner shuffled the pack and FDJ.fr dragged Bouhanni up to the front at just the right moment. He then opened up his sprint on the right of the road and distanced his rival sprinters, giving himself time to sit and celebrate.

Full Results