Romain Grégoire leads the general standings on the Four Days of Dunkirk, Per Strand Hagenes wins the 5th stage

Announcement as one of the next nuggets of Groupama-FDJRomain Grégoire is very close to winning the first stage race of his career. Already winner of the 2nd stage on Wednesday, the 20-year-old Bisontin pulled off a coup on Saturday on the queen stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk. He took advantage of the last ascent of Mont Cel to place a sharp attack shortly before the red flame after a good job by Paul Penhoët at the head of the peloton.

Only the Norwegian Petr Strand Hagenes (19 years old, Jumbo-Visma) managed to follow the wheel of the young climber to beat him on the finish line in Kel. But Grégoire will largely console himself with taking the leader’s jersey. The native of Besançon took over – bonuses not included – 11 seconds from Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) and 14 from former leader Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step).

Promoted to the Groupama-FDJ team after learning in the “Conti”, Grégoire notably won Liège-Bastogne-Liège espoirs last year as well as a stage of the “Baby Giro” and finished 13th in the Tour de l ‘Coming. A track record already filled and supplemented by two titles of French junior champion on the road and another on time trial between 2020 and 2021.

Sunday, he will have to defend his tunic on the final stage between Avion and Dunkirk (182.6 kilometers), promised to the sprinters. Grégoire will start with 13 seconds over Asgreen and 17 over Kooij.