Terpstra wins second Le Samyn title

Le Samyn was Quick-Step Floor's race to lose, and they didn't. Niki Terpstra jumped and cleared the final three-man breakaway, and muscled his way around the day's gruelling, cobbled circuit before finishing with his second victory in Dour.

It was a case of classic tactics as Quick-Step's Philippe Gilbert, also in the final move, as he backed lone rival Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie) into the unfortunate position of having to perform a futile chase only to finish third as Gilbert rode around him on the run-in to the finish line for second place.

"I am very happy, but must say we suffered today with every kilometer, because the cold made use spend a lot of energy," Terpstra said. "It wasn't easy to race in these conditions, but fortunately it worked out well for us at the end of the day. We knew the break was strong and the responsibility was on us, so that's why we attacked in the crosswinds from afar.

"We went full gas and turned everything into an elimination race, with more and more guys getting tired and dropped. The team rode a textbook race, Philippe was perfect in the finale and we just made use of our numerical advantage, so that I could get away and take this beautiful win."

The peloton had a chance to stretch its legs during Belgium's 'opening weekend' with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, where Quick-Step Floors came up empty-handed. And so, perhaps out of sheer frustration, they came out swinging mid-week for Le Samyn's 200km race between Quaregon and Dour.

The parcours was unforgiving, featuring four bergs in the first half. It was tough enough for an early split with Gaudin, Maxime Daniel (Fortuneo), Tom Devriendt (Wany Groupe-Gobert), Quentin Jauregui (AG2R-La Mondiale), Johan Le Bon (Vital Concept), Casper Pedersen (Aqua Blue), Franklin Six and Alex Kirsch (WB Aqua Sport) clearing the field.

Once the climbs were out of the way, Quick-Step Floors amassed at the front of the peloton with a pace so fast that it forced a split with 10 chasers - six of those were from Quick-Step.

Former winners Gilbert and Terpstra along with Tim Declercq, Davide Martinelli, Florian Sénéchal, and Zdenek Stybar controlled the chase; hell-bent on catching the breakaway, while Boris Vallée (Wanty Group-Gobert), Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto Soudal) and Maxime Daniel (Fortuneo) sat tight on the back. They made the catch.

At the half-way mark, the parcours entered the final four circuits, and the now 16-rider lead group held on to a 40-second lead, neither here nor there because Quick-Step planned to further blow the race apart over the four cobbled sectors on each lap.

They shelled riders one by one; first, it was Six followed by Vallée and then Quick-Step's own Declercq, understandably tired after his efforts to drive the move earlier on.

Only the strongest survived, Gilbert and Terpstra led, while Gaudin, Van der Sande and Kirsch followed, building out 46 seconds on the dropped riders and 1:15 ahead of the field with 50km (2 laps) remaining.

Terpstra and Gilbert pushed hard over the cobblestones, often moving over to the dirt gutters for fast, smooth pedalling, and their efforts eventually shed Van der Sande and Kirsch.

Van der Sande and Kirsch tried desperately to regain contact with the trio. Reinforcement arrived as defending champion Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty Groupe -Gobert), who wasn't willing to hand over the race to Quick-Step, along with Adrien Petit (Direct Energie) and Gediminas Bagdonas (AG2R La Mondiale), latched on. By that time, however, the gap to the leaders had swelled to an almost unbridgeable 50 seconds.

Trapped in the uncomfortable position of not wanting to help his Quick-Step rivals but wanting to reap some small reward for his huge effort, Gaudin swapped equal pulls with Terpstra and Gilbert on the last lap.

Quick-Step's inevitable attack on Gaudin began inside 15km to go; first, Gilbert went, and then it only took one counter attack from Terpstra to break the Frenchman. Gaudin conceded the first place prize to Terpstra, and then second to Gilbert, but he kept the third place - a small reward for such a big effort. 

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quick - Step Floors4:47:48
2Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick - Step Floors0:00:04
3Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:46
4Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:18
5Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 4 - Cell 2
6Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic0:01:21
7Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Team Fortuneo - Samsic0:01:59
8Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 8 - Cell 2
10Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct Energie0:02:02
11Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:02:08
12Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 11 - Cell 2
13Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Quick - Step Floors0:02:19
14Jelle Mannaerts (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 13 - Cell 2
15Tanner Putt (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 15 - Cell 2
17Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 16 - Cell 2
18Andrew Fenn (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 17 - Cell 2
19Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 18 - Cell 2
20Sean De Bie (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 19 - Cell 2
21Charlie Arimont (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 20 - Cell 2
22Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 21 - Cell 2
23Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 22 - Cell 2
24Julien Stassen (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 23 - Cell 2
25Tom Dernies (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 24 - Cell 2
26Ludwig De Winter (Bel) Wb Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 25 - Cell 2
27Piet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 26 - Cell 2
28Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 27 - Cell 2
29Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 28 - Cell 2
30Floris Gerts (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 29 - Cell 2
31Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 30 - Cell 2
32Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 32 - Cell 2
34Lawrence Naesen (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 33 - Cell 2
35Benjamin Declercq (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 34 - Cell 2
36Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:02:26
37Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 36 - Cell 2
38Bram Welten (Ned) Team Fortuneo - SamsicRow 37 - Cell 2
39Julien Morice (Fra) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 38 - Cell 2
40Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Aqua Blue Sport0:02:37
41Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:40
42Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:02:46
43Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:03:13
44Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:03:42
45Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 44 - Cell 2
46Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:44
47Stijn Steels (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 46 - Cell 2
48Michael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:04:42
49Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:07:11
50Dorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 49 - Cell 2
51Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Team Fortuneo - SamsicRow 50 - Cell 2
52Lukas Spengler (Swi) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 51 - Cell 2
53Senne Leysen (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:08:07
54Elias Van Breussegem (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:08:28
55Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij0:08:31
56Davide Martinelli (Ita) Quick - Step Floors0:08:52
57Pierre Idjouadiene (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jimmy Duquennoy (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 57 - Cell 2
59David Boucher (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 58 - Cell 2
60Maxime Farazijn (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 59 - Cell 2
61Lennert Teugels (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 60 - Cell 2
62Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 61 - Cell 2
63Emiel Vermeulen (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 62 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Legley (Bel) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 63 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Leroux (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 64 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Maes (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 65 - Cell 2
DNFNiels De Rooze (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 66 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Joly (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 67 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Cant (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 68 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Barbier (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 69 - Cell 2
DNFLaurin Winter (Ger) Team Differdange LoschRow 70 - Cell 2
DNFMichiel Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 71 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Dehaes (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 72 - Cell 2
DNFUgo Dangelo (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 73 - Cell 2
DNFRobin Stenuit (Bel) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFLander Seynaeve (Bel) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFAbram Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFTimothy Stevens (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFArthur Baude (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFFranklin Six (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Debuy (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFTom Paquot (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Goebeert (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Molly (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFDennis Coenen (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFWim Reynaerts (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Jans (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Deguide (Bel) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFBrecht Ruyters (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Geuens (Bel) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Donders (Bel) Team Differdange LoschRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFOlivier Pardini (Bel) Team Differdange LoschRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFJoshua Teasdale (GBr) Team Differdange LoschRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFTom Vermeer (Ned) Team Differdange LoschRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Verwaest (Bel) Team Differdange LoschRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFJan Petelin (Lux) Team Differdange LoschRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFGaetan Bille (Bel) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFVincent De Sy (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Deriaux (Fra) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Evrard (Bel) Sovac - Natura4EverRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Janssens (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFBrian Van Goethem (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFTravis Mccabe (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFAdam Blythe (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFKenneth Van Rooy (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Van Gompel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFCasper Phillip Pedersen (Den) Aqua Blue SportRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Koning (Ned) Aqua Blue SportRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFShane Archbold (NZl) Aqua Blue SportRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFEric Marcotte (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFMichaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFCarlos Eduardo Alzate Escobar (Col) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Cornu (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFWouter Wippert (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFTim Ariesen (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFYohann Gene (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Carbel Svendgaard (Den) Team Fortuneo - SamsicRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFSimon Sellier (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) Team Fortuneo - SamsicRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Vachon (Fra) Team Fortuneo - SamsicRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFLoic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFSteven Lammertink (Ned) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFTomas Petit (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFEdward Walsh (Can) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFRoss Lamb (GBr) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFAdam Lewis (GBr) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFThomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFTom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Le Roux (Fra) Team Fortuneo - SamsicRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Le Bon (Fra) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFMark McNally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Eaton (USA) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFBoris Vallee (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Haag (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental WallonRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFLorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFKris Boeckmans (Bel) Vital Concept Cycling ClubRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Quick - Step FloorsRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFLachlan Norris (Aus) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Senechal (Fra) Quick - Step FloorsRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFZdenek Štybar (Cze) Quick - Step FloorsRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Cataford (Can) Unitedhealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
DNSConor Dunne (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 144 - Cell 2
DNSKenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 145 - Cell 2

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Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.

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