The first autumn classic
The GP de Fourmies - La Voix du Nord will be the first in a succession of one-day races in northern France, Germany and Belgium culminating in the World Championships and Paris-Roubaix on October 3. A spectacular end of the season is beginning to be glimpsed, and the GP de Fourmies will be the welcome cocktail to the banquet that will come.
Route
The event starts in the French town of Fourmies, near Belgium. The 197-kilometer route includes two circuits. The first passes through the towns of Liessies, Felleries, L’Epine, Clairfayts, Eppe-Sauvage and Trélon, and reaches the Belgian border. The last, smaller loop, is drawn in and around Fourmies.
Neither the first nor the second circuit include important climbs, but the route is demanding and full of false flat sectors and small slopes. It is a route that on paper gives an opportunity to puncheus and rouleurs who seek victory from the breakaway or with late attack, although it is true that in recent years the sprint has been reached.
Favorites
Pascal Ackermann (1000) starts as the main favorite, as the winner of the last two editions of the race, in 2018 and 2019. Other sprinters interested in a group arrival are Fernando Gaviria (1000), Bryan Coquard (600), Elia Viviani (600 ), Kristoffer Halvorsen (600), Álvaro Hodeg (400), Marc Sarreau (400), Piet Allegaert (400) or Timothy Dupont (400).
Cyclists like Greg Van Avermaet (800) or Nils Politt (400) are the main contenders among non-sprinters.