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1 Jour of Dunkerque Discussion
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 10-01-2019 09:42
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Preview and Report by Tsmoha
 1 Jour de Dunkerque
Formerly known as the 5 Jours de Dunkerque and held as a stage race (running ten years from 2008 to 2017), the event has been cut down to become an one-day classic with C2 status. The race organziation did all to keep the event alive in some way and they are proudly presenting a new cobbled classic that way: a challenging, partly flat, partly hilly parcours. Coming with an uphill finish (that ain't too steep) in Cassel, the profile certainly should favor those cobblers, who handle hills pretty well.
And despite losing it's place as part of the main PCT schedule, the Dunkerque event has certainly a quite iconic status in the MG history: the list of former race winners inlcude names such as Lukasz Wisniowksi (2017), Matteo Trentin (2015), Pieter Vanspeybrouck (2012, 2013), Mikhail Ignatiev (2011), Francesco Ginanni (2010) or Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009) and amongst previous stage winners we could names such as Tom Boonen or Danny Summerhill.. Heinrich Haussler, Peter Kennaugh and Juan Van Heerden as the record stage-winners with 4 stage-wins each. But for now, it ain't about stage wins anymore: just one day counts and it's obviously a day for the cobbles specialists.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Favorites | HI | CO | AC | | Outsiders | HI | CO | AC |  Ferreira | 68 | 79 | 69 | |  Machado | 63 | 79 | 61 |  Breen | 70 | 77 | 72 | |  Taubel | 65 | 78 | 64 |  Kluge | 68 | 77 | 75 | |  Jacobs | 64 | 78 | 63 |  Kulppi | 67 | 77 | 70 | |  Drucker | 65 | 77 | 75 |  Zhupa | 67 | 77 | 68 | | Grand | 65 | 77 | 65 |  Kasperkiewicz | 71 | 76 | 65 | |  Eeckhout | 61 | 77 | 57 |  Joseph | 66 | 76 | 70 | | Minoungou | 65 | 75 | 68 | | Van der Haar | 72 | 75 | 70 | | Vandenbergh | 64 | 75 | 59 | | Cominelli | 67 | 75 | 58 | | Verbist | 62 | 75 | 64 |  Schoonbroodt | 75 | 74 | 72 | | Veelers | 61 | 75 | 72 |  Marzuki | 74 | 74 | 72 | | Ruiz | 60 | 75 | 58 | | Verhelst | 73 | 74 | 68 | |  Batmunkh | 65 | 73 | 74 |  Vermote | 70 | 74 | 72 | | Darbinyan | 65 | 73 | 70 | | Ngandamba | 69 | 74 | 71 | | Lovassy | 64 | 73 | 77 | | Dahl-Olsen | 68 | 74 | 69 | |  Lilholt | 61 | 73 | 74 | | Riesebeek | 73 | 73 | 72 | | Kolev | 61 | 73 | 66 | | Naesen | 72 | 73 | 68 | | Yechezkel | 62 | 71 | 72 | | Coronel | 68 | 73 | 70 | | Monk | 65 | 69 | 69 |
Let's start with those riders, who handle both cobbles and hills in the best possible way: Breen/Van der Haar as the well known duo for Delvaux - both had some notable results this season. Other good climbers are Kasperkiewicz, Schoonbroodt, Marzuki, Verhelst, Vermote or Riesebeek and Naesen. While the latter few names may suffer from the amount of cobbles, they will certainly try to benefit from their uphill abilities and looking at the profile, there should be definitely some chances to drop some less strong puncheurs on the climbs.
Ferreira, Kluge, Kulppi, Zhupa and Joseph amongst the best cobblers with at least solid allround skills for such a course. Ferreira and Kluge should definitely aim for a big result here, as they ain't much worse than Breen (when it comes to climbing).
Less strong "punchy cobblers" may still fancy their chances due to the amount of pavé kilometres: Machado, Taubel/Grand, Jacobs and Drucker as the most notable names. Particularly Drucker as a serious contender despite his (slightly worse) climbing skills and he already proved that he can compete on hillier profiles - at least against competition like this. The differences between him and guys like Ferreria or Kluge shouldn't be too big after all.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 10-01-2019 09:49
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Tour de France Champion
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So it comes down to this, our C2 filler/exp races could decide about relegation or staying in. Joseph/Verhelst, I'm counting on you!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 19:20
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 10-01-2019 10:45
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Kaspa has started winning - the floodgates are open, sorry CT 
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[PT]  Xero Racing
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 10-01-2019 10:53
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Go Zhupa, go Zhupa! Here comes the one-man Swisslion fanclub!!
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| Vien |
Posted on 10-01-2019 12:23
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Thought Schoonbroodt would do well but now I'm seeing the startlist.. Meh, I don't think he will top 10. |
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 10-01-2019 13:08
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Hmm it can go average or it can go very bad. Naesen has overperformed this season, but cracking the Top10 is just asking too much, but a Top15 is realistic if he finds himself in peak like in Lincoln (if Im not mistaken). Eeckhout is a joker, or a joke kinda, he's not a fan of gravity so I am not putting any hopes in him, maybe he can help Naesen.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 10-01-2019 21:55
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not too opmistic but nice to be racing.
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| tastasol |
Posted on 10-01-2019 23:21
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Classics Specialist
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Great memories from 5 Jours de Dunkerque with victories from both Trentin and Wisniowski, and also Trentin winning on this finish.
Don't expect too much from us this time around, but at least hoping to be in BOTD.
Breen for the win.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 11-01-2019 01:31
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I'm excited about the MGs risky endeavour to cover 5 Jours of Dunqerke in one day. It could be a really solid race for Kaspa, suits him down to the ground and Gunnar will provide some great support. 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 11-01-2019 11:07
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Underwhelming finale, but 4th is a result to be happy about! This actually makes it (in addition to Arenberg) what I'd consider a very successful season for Kaspa, incredibly excited for his future! Pleased with Kolev joining the break as well.
Congrats on the win Ste and thanks tsmoha (and Aquarius for posting) the report!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Vien |
Posted on 11-01-2019 11:13
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Small Tour Specialist
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Yeah, useless result, as I thought. Whatever, it's just a C2 race. |
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 11-01-2019 11:31
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Good 5th from Kulppi making good use of his season so far.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 11-01-2019 11:51
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It looked good with Verhelst in the break and Joseph following the favourites, but in the end we got outscored by both Netia and WCC. Thanks for the report!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| redordead |
Posted on 11-01-2019 13:28
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We were bound to have a stinker one day 
Thanks for the report
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 11-01-2019 15:11
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Well, 11th is good for Eeckhout can't deny. I'm happy with it, since I was expecting a big loss to such teams as Swisslion in here.
Congratz ste and thanks tsmoha/Aquarius for the report!
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 12-01-2019 10:02
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That was worse than I expected
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 12-01-2019 23:30
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Not the result we've grown to expect from the C2 cobble races, though a 6th place isn't that bad either. Would have liked a better team performance though, as the course should have suited particularly van der Haar well.
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