Today’s 178 kilometer long second stage of Four days at Dunkerque between Fontaine au Pire and Maubeuge was a textbook buildup for a furious bunch sprint. Unfortunately, CULT Energy Pro Cycling missed the breakaway but Mads Pedersen finished 12th in the frantic finale.
 

Four riders formed the long-lasting breakaway while the sprinter teams joined forces on the front of the pack for a game of cat and mouse and especially the French teams were active in the chase. With 13 kilometers remaining, CULT Energy contributed to the pace-making on the front of the pack to set up sprinter Mads Pedersen.

The final few kilometers were intensely hectic and CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s Michael Reihs put Pedersen in a solid position for the sprint. The young Dane finished 12th but could only watch Swedish Jonas Ahlstrand (Cofidis) take stage glory. Bryan Coquard (Europcar) retains the overall lead.

Michael Reihs says:

“We worked hard in the beginning of the stage to put one of us in the early break but unfortunately, we missed this boat. However, four riders were up against all odds on a stage like this and when the escapees were swept up, we tried to put Mads in a favorable position in the rush for the finish line. It was a nasty finale with road furniture, roundabouts and tricky corners before a sharp turn with 300 meters to go where we lost a little terrain. I think Mads pulled a decent result but naturally, we are hungry for more and tomorrow, there’s another chance,” concludes Reihs.