“20-Year-Old Romain Grégoire Becomes Youngest Winner in 4 Days of Dunkirk History”

Barely four days after his first success with the big boys, Romain Grégoire continued this Sunday with his very first victory in the general classification of a stage race. Leader of the 4 Days of Dunkerque since the day before thanks to his demonstration in Cassel, the young rider of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team was not in any way worried in the sixth stage, won by Tim Merlier in the sprint. At just 20 years old, Romain Grégoire becomes the youngest winner of the northern event and allows the team to regain the title in Dunkirk, nine years after Arnaud Démare.

There remained 172 kilometers to cover this Sunday for Romain Grégoire, in order to ensure his final victory in the 4 Days of Dunkirk. Adorned with the leader’s pink jersey – like his friend Bruno Armirail on the other side of the Alps – at the start of Avion, the young man wanted to be wary despite a rather flat course and to the advantage of the sprinters. The race first took a fairly classic turn since eight riders were able to break away in the very first minutes. “The best placed was at 3’30, which did not worry usindicated Frédéric Guesdon. Soudal-Quick Step, Jumbo-Visma and Intermarché-Circus-Wanty quickly took the lead, then we also went riding due to the wind. There was a little bit of pressure from the Soudal-Quick Step between the mountains, after fifty kilometers, but we knew the terrain and we were placed. They did not trap us and they undoubtedly took a blow to the morale vis-à-vis the general “. “I did well to be wary, because today again, the stage was nervous, Roman added. The Soudal-Quick Step tried to edge it but we responded. It was all the same really tough all day with the wind and then the circuit where you had to constantly restart”. Due to the palpable nervousness within the pack, the breakaway only approached the final seven circuits around Dunkirk with a very thin margin. With four loops to go, everything was back in order for a massive packing.

“A great feeling of pride”, Romain Gregoire

However, there were still a few pitfalls to avoid. “On the circuit, we still had to remain vigilant because it was quite technical in town, Frederic added. We weren’t sure of anything until we crossed the line. All it takes is a break, bonuses and it can go very quickly ». The pink jersey, however, remained safe from any problems, well covered by his colleagues until the last moments. In the final, Bram Welten and Paul Penhoët even tried to make their way for the sprint, but the young Tricolore failed to find the opening in time, finishing the stage in eighth position.. “It was a bit difficult to bet on the sprint, confided Frederic. We were in between, and the priority was clearly given to the general ”. However, a few lengths behind his former colleague from “La Conti”, Romain Grégoire cut the line in the heart of the peloton, his fist raised to celebrate his totally mastered final victory. “I am relieved and happy to be donehe whispered on arrival. The guys did their best to protect me and give me confidence. I owe them this victory 100%. Yesterday like today, their work was monstrous and I can only thank them. It’s a great feeling of pride to win the general of the 4 Days of Dunkirk. The week has been very intense, with tension and pitfalls to avoid every day. We go home with the jersey and the feeling of accomplishment.

This Sunday, Romain Grégoire did not only materialize his ambitions for the week. He also wrote a small page in the history of the 4 Days of Dunkerque, which this season celebrated their 67^th editing. At 20 years and 120 days, he simply became the youngest winner of the event. “We realize that the young people of the new generation manage to get results right away, explained Frederic. They are operational as soon as they go to the pros, but it is nonetheless beautiful and impressive. There was also a great team of young people around him, and all of them were doing well. It was important that they were all up to speed, that there was mutual support, and they all gave their best”. At the end of six days of racing, Romain Grégoire was ahead of Kasper Asgreen by thirteen seconds and Cees Bol by fifteen seconds, while Samuel Watson grabbed tenth place overall. Anyway, it’s a good week that ends for the Bisontin, with two successes on the clock. “I’m going to enjoy it, it’s a moment I’m going to remember, then I’ll focus on the rest of the season”he punctuated.