News

Analysis written by Sergio Yustos (@sergioyustos_) and tips by Cédric Molina (@ilcapoced)

ROUTE ANALYSIS

• Schedule: 11:20 - 15:45 CET
• TV broadcast: 14:00 CET

This “little Roubaix” is, bluntly, all about its 13 cobbled sectors. The first appears at kilometer 110 and from there the race completely changes complexion.

The sequence that follows is relentless, with hardly any respite, until the bunch has negotiated all 22.8 kilometers of cobbles. It’s a course that wears riders down, where positioning and bike-handling matter as much as pure power. Not as tough as Roubaix, yes, but with the same essence. We shouldn’t rule out a reduced sprint.

Nº	Sector	Difficulty	Distance	Km
1	Avesnes-les-Aubert – Carnières	++++	2400 m	110.4
2	Saint-Hilaire-lez-Cambrai – Viesly	+++++	2500 m	120.0
3	Saint-Python	+++	1500 m	122.5
4	Vertain – Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon	+++	2300 m	131.1
5	Capelle – Ruesnes (sprint)	++++	1600 m	137.1
6	Artres – Famars	++++	1200 m	147.0
7	Maing – Quérénaing (sprint)	+++++	2500 m	153.1
8	Quérénaing – Verchain-Maugré	++++	1600 m	155.8
9	Monchaux-sur-Écaillon – Maing	+++	1600 m	163.4
10	Thiant – Haspres	++++	1700 m	172.2
11	Avesnes-le-Sec – Hordain	++++	1700 m	178.4
12	Mastaing	++	600 m	187.7
13	Abscon	++++	1600 m	191.9

THE WEATHER

The wind will be a major factor in how the day unfolds. An average of more than 20 km/h from the northeast will be key in determining the winner. It’s a scenario that favors a more attritional race.

Powered by cyclingfantasy.cc

FAVORITES FOR THE WIN

This is always a very difficult race to read, but a fun one to follow. The wind suggests the race could split more easily and, although rain is not expected, this scenario looks more likely than a simple reduced bunch sprint.

Among all the participants, riders such as Arnaud De Lie, Tibor Del Grosso, António Morgado or Gianni Vermeersch stand out, if he does take the start. All of them have been prominent this season and excel on this kind of terrain, although we already know the Portuguese rider doesn’t like the cobbles. In this group of favorites I would also include names such as Jordi Meeus (who has also not confirmed his presence at the time of writing) and Lukáš Kubiš.

On the next tier, we find riders such as Alec Segaert, Baptiste Tronchon, Nils Politt, Aaron Gate, Alexis Renard, Cees Bol, Brent Van Moer, Hugo Page, Matyáš Kopecký, Juan Sebastián Molano, Toon Aerts, Stefan Bissegger or Jenthe Biermans. They may not appear among the top candidates, but on a day like this it’s hard to know who will make it into the final group that ultimately contests victory in Denain.

Finally, there are many young riders to keep an eye on: Haimar Etxeberria, Felix Ørn-Kristoff, Ashlin Barry, Daniel Škerl, Thibaud Gruel, Matteo Milan or Kasper Haugland, among others, but I have a lot of confidence in the Team Visma | Lease a Bike duo of Per Strand Hagenes and Matisse Van Kerckhove. Both have stood out this year and, above all, the Norwegian looks very promising on this terrain for the future. I think we should keep them under close watch.

---

IL CAPO CED’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE A CAPO IN FANTASY

💥 Il capo’s stat.

Last season all the riders who finished in the top 10 cost 200 coins, except Arnaud De Lie (800).

🌟 Capos to watch.
This is one of the most peculiar classics in the entire Fantasy calendar. The data I’ll share with you in the usual sections below bear this out.
That’s why all my recommendations for this race are going to be riders costing 200 coins:
Antonio Morgado, Gianni Vermeersch, Alexis Renard, Nils Politt, Cees Bol, Brent Van Moer, Aimé De Gendt, Hugo Page, Baptiste Tronchon, Jens Reynders, Arjen Livyns, Tomáš Kopecký, Anton Gachinard, Max Walscheid, Kamil Małecki, Mikkel Bjerg.

📂 Riders with -10% who managed a T10.
2025: 5
2024: 6 (including 🥇🥈)
2023: 6 (including 🥈🥉)
2022: 4 (including 🥉)
2021: 2

📂 Riders costing 200 coins who managed a T10.
2025: 9
2024: 8
2023: 9
2022: 7
2021: 6