Senechal wins Le Samyn

Florian Sénéchal continued Deceuninck-QuickStep’s streak of success in the early Belgian races, winning the Le Samyn race with a well-executed sprint finish after a tactical and aggressive race.

It was the Frenchman’s first professional victory and the 14th victory of the 2019 season for Deceuninck-QuickStep.

Sénéchal was part of the decisive 10-rider attack that formed on the last lap and then won the sprint after teammate Tim Declercq was pulled back in sight of the line.

Lars Boom (Roompot-Charles) stated the sprint early but Sénéchal was able to match his speed and come past him before the finish line.

Aimé De Gendt (Wanty-Groupe-Gobert) finished second, with Niki Terpstra (Direct Energie) third after trying to split the group in the final kilometres.

Zdenek Stybar won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and then Bob Jungels won Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on Sunday. Deceuninck-QuickStep opted to rest its bigger name riders during the week, giving Sénéchal the chance to take his first victory after six years as a professional rider.

"In previous years I did too much too early but this time I really waited for the finale. My teammates worked all day and I owe them a lot. We really worked well. In the end, I had a good sprint, I felt strong, even if Lars Boom was also strong. But he went too early, and I came back," Sénéchal explained happily.

"Terpstra was really strong. I knew he's a shrewd rider and was waiting for the finale - Boom as well. I attacked on the final sector and the three of us went clear - the three strongest. Then it came back and Tim did an amazing job.

"You're never sure of yourself in a sprint, especially when it goes from so far out, but in the end, it was decided à la pédale and I'm super happy to win it."

The 198.4km race is held in the French-speaking of southern Belgium and includes a series of climbs on a loop north toward Flanders and then four laps of a 25km circuit that includes climbs, exposed roads and four sections of cobbles.

The weather was overcast and grey, with early rain adding to the difficulties.

Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), Tom Dernies (Roubaix Lille Métropole) and Gianni Marchand (Cibel-Cebon) found the courage to form the early break with Deceuninck-QuickStep accepting responsibility to lead the chase in the hills and onto the four circuits.

Crashes on the cobbles caused some problems and splits in the peloton but they pulled back the early move. However, the riders were aggressive and another trio went away with 70km to go. Terpstra and his Direct Energie teammates were determined to leave their mark on the race and went on the attack in the crosswinds despite 60km to race. That reduced the front group to just 20 or so riders, with only another 20 getting back on.

Aimé De Gendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Pieter Serry (Deceuninck-QuickStep) were the next to attack, with other riders jumping across on the pave as the riders covered the 25km circuits and tasted the cobbles, concrete roads, exposed roads and narrow lanes that make Belgian races so special.

With a lap remaining, Elmar Reinders and Jesper Asselman (Roompot-Charles), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R La Mondiale), Rémy Mertz (Lotto-Soudal) and Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-Quick Step) joined De Gendt and Serry in what looked like the decisive move.

The Israel Cycling Academy team first tried to close the gap and then Terpstra and his teammates took charge of their destiny. After a high-speed surge, the Dutchman jumped across to the break on the Roquette section of cobbles. Only Boom and Sénéchal could stay with him, making for ten riders up front: Vandenbergh, Declercq, Serry, Sénéchal, Boom, Asselman, Reinders, Terpstra, Mertz and De Gendt.

With three riders from Roompot and three from Deceuninck-Quick Step, they were forced to drag the group along as the others tried different attacks. It was pure Belgian racing, with Terpstra tying to attack on the cobbles with Sénéchal quick to chase after him.

Sénéchal, Boom, and Terpstra exited the final sector of cobbles with a decent lead but De Gendt jumped across and then so did Declercq. Boom tried another surge on the climb back into Dour for the finish but was marked carefully. Declercq was given more space, as the others looked at each other and managed to open a gap. His move forced Deceuninck-Quick Step's rivals to chase and helped Sénéchal, who was confident of his sprint.

Declercq looked set to stay away as the flame rouge arrived but other riders came up from behind to help with the chase and he was suddenly within reaching distance.

Boom opened up the sprint as they passed Declercq and Terpstra made sure he was tucked on his wheel. However, the Dutchmen went too early and had too little in their legs. Sénéchal managed to match them and beat them before the line, taking an emotional first win of his professional career.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Florian Senechal (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStep4:38:20
2Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 1 - Cell 2
3Niki Terpstra (Ned) Direct EnergieRow 2 - Cell 2
4Lars Boom (Ned) Roompot-CharlesRow 3 - Cell 2
5Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:00:01
6Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Tim Declercq (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:00:06
8Elmar Reinders (Ned) Roompot-Charles0:00:08
9Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot-Charles0:00:14
10Remy Mertz (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:19
11Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles0:00:54
12Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jelle Mannaerts (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex0:01:02
14Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy0:01:10
15Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 14 - Cell 2
16Loïc Vliegen (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 15 - Cell 2
17Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 16 - Cell 2
18Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:17
19Tom Dernies (Bel) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 18 - Cell 2
20Dries De Bondt (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 19 - Cell 2
21Pim Ligthart (Ned) Direct Energie0:01:23
22Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 21 - Cell 2
23Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 22 - Cell 2
24Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 23 - Cell 2
25Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 24 - Cell 2
26Bagdonas Gediminas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 25 - Cell 2
27Lawrence Naesen (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 27 - Cell 2
29Josip Rumac (Cro) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 28 - Cell 2
30Dorian Godon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 29 - Cell 2
31James Fouche (NZl) Team Wiggins LecolRow 30 - Cell 2
32Sjoerd van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot-CharlesRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jan Maas (Ned) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 32 - Cell 2
34Senne Leysen (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 33 - Cell 2
35Kevyn Ista (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 34 - Cell 2
36Stan Dewulf (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 35 - Cell 2
37Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 36 - Cell 2
38Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 37 - Cell 2
39Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 38 - Cell 2
40Alan Banaszek (Pol) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 39 - Cell 2
41Roy Jans (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 40 - Cell 2
42Alexander Krieger (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling0:01:31
43Stijn Devolder (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:01:36
44Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:51
45Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct Energie0:02:02
46Timothy Stevens (Bel) Cibel0:02:21
47Jack Burke (Can) Leopard Pro Cycling0:02:38
48Mario Spengler (Swi) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 47 - Cell 2
49Tom Wirtgen (Lux) Wallonie Bruxelles0:03:39
50Thomas Stewart (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jeroen Pattyn (Bel) Team Differdange GebaRow 50 - Cell 2
52Gianni Marchand (Bel) CibelRow 51 - Cell 2
53David Boucher (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 52 - Cell 2
54Bert De Backer (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 53 - Cell 2
55Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 54 - Cell 2
56Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 55 - Cell 2
57Boris Vallee (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 56 - Cell 2
58Sebastian Mora Vedri (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 57 - Cell 2
59Gaëtan Pons (Lux) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 58 - Cell 2
60Lukas Spengler (Swi) Wallonie BruxellesRow 59 - Cell 2
61Emils Liepins (Lat) Wallonie BruxellesRow 60 - Cell 2
62Xavier Cañellas Sanchez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 61 - Cell 2
63Ludwig De Winter (Bel) Wanty-GobertRow 62 - Cell 2
64Joab Schneiter (Swi) IAM ExcelsiorRow 63 - Cell 2
65Michiel Dieleman (Bel) CibelRow 64 - Cell 2
66Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 65 - Cell 2
67Samuel Leroux (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 66 - Cell 2
68Dennis Coenen (Bel) CibelRow 67 - Cell 2
69Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 68 - Cell 2
70Pierre Barbier (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 69 - Cell 2
71Gabriel Cullaigh (GBr) Team Wiggins LecolRow 70 - Cell 2
72Pierre Idjouadiene (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 71 - Cell 2
73Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Aurélien Paret Peintre (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 73 - Cell 2
75Bram Welten (Ned) Arkéa SamsicRow 74 - Cell 2
76Colin Heiderscheid (Lux) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 75 - Cell 2
77Conor Dunne (Irl) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jordi Van Dingenen (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 77 - Cell 2
79Julien Van Den Brande (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex0:04:43
80Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Gobert0:05:11
81Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec0:06:07
82Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:06:51
83Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 82 - Cell 2
84Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 83 - Cell 2
85Emiel Vermeulen (Bel) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 84 - Cell 2
86Peter Williams (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro Cycling0:08:31
87Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct Energie0:09:31
88Clément Russo (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 87 - Cell 2
89Brian van Goethem (Ned) Lotto Soudal0:11:11
90Marco Tizza (Ita) Amore & Vita-Prodir0:11:51
91Quentin Guex (Swi) IAM ExcelsiorRow 90 - Cell 2
92Dylan Page (Swi) IAM ExcelsiorRow 91 - Cell 2
93Simon Pellaud (Swi) IAM ExcelsiorRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFKenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFEmmanuel Morin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFLasse Norman Hansen (Den) Corendon-CircusRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Viel (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFAngelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Martinelli (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFMaximiliano Richeze (Arg) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Benfatto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFLeonardo Fedrigo (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Pelucchi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-SidermecRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFGeoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Thomas Wagner (Ger) Arkéa SamsicRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFThibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Jarrier (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Riou (Fra) Arkéa SamsicRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Gonzalez Lopez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 111 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Malucelli (Ita) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 112 - Cell 2
DNFMauricio Moreira (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 113 - Cell 2
DNFJustin Mottier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFJulian Varley (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro CyclingRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFLorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFJacob Relaes (Bel) CibelRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFLennert Teugels (Bel) CibelRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Deruette (Bel) Team Differdange GebaRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Deguide (Bel) Team Differdange GebaRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFTom Thill (Lux) Team Differdange GebaRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFTiago Da Silva (Lux) Team Differdange GebaRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFIvan Centrone (Lux) Team Differdange GebaRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFPit Leyder (Lux) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Masson (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFIsaac Mundy (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro CyclingRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFJacob Hennessy (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFJacob Scott (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro CyclingRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Colman (Bel) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFGeorge Wood (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro CyclingRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFJames Shaw (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro CyclingRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFFloris Gerts (Ned) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFYlber Sefa (Alb) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Vantomme (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFBen Healy (Irl) Team Wiggins LecolRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFMark Christian (GBr) Team Wiggins LecolRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFOliver Robinson (GBr) Team Wiggins LecolRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Scott (GBr) Team Wiggins LecolRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFJacques Sauvagnargues (GBr) Team Wiggins LecolRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFGiacomo Ballabio (Ita) IAM ExcelsiorRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Schäppi (Swi) IAM ExcelsiorRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFBen Hardy (GBr) Swiftcarbon Pro CyclingRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Turgis (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten van Trijp (Ned) Corendon-CircusRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Brändle (Aut) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFAugust Jensen (Nor) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFStijn Steels (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFEdward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFEmiel Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFAaron Van Poucke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFJordi Warlop (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Fournier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFCedric Raymackers (Bel) CibelRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFSamuele Zoccarato (Ita) IAM ExcelsiorRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFOtto Vergaerde (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMaxence Moncassin (Fra) Amore & Vita-ProdirRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFStijn De Bock (Bel) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFRobert-Jon McCarthy (Irl) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFAndrew Tennant (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Paton (GBr) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFFederico Nicolas Vivas (Arg) Amore & Vita-ProdirRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFKaspars Sergis (Lat) Amore & Vita-ProdirRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFLionel Taminiaux (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFViesturs Luksevics (Lat) Amore & Vita-ProdirRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFJan-André Freuler (Swi) Amore & Vita-ProdirRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita-ProdirRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFFranklin Six (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 169 - Cell 2
DNSDimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 170 - Cell 2
DNSWesley Mol (Ned) Team Differdange GebaRow 171 - Cell 2
DNSGuillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 172 - Cell 2
DNSBenjamin Declercq (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 173 - Cell 2

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Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.

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