Dorian Godon takes Brabantse Pijl win as AG2R Citroen secure two podium places

Dorian Godon has claimed an excellent win at Brabantse Pijl. Following a thrilling race the AG2R Citroen Team rider proved to have too much for second-placed Ben Healy and third-placed Benoit Cosnefroy.

The first major Ardennes Classic, Brabantse Pijl is historically a race that suits the puncheurs and cobbled classic specialists. Opting to try their luck from the breakaway was a select, four-man group consisting of Johan Meens (Bingoal WB), Sander De Pestel (Team Flanders - Baloise), Tord Gudmestad (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and Irish national road race champion, Rory Townsend (Bolton Equities Black Spoke).

With around 60kms to go, one of the pre-race favourites, Benoit Cosnefroy made an explorative attack at the front of the peloton and although he was brought back by the bunch, the lead groups advantage dropped to under a minute.

With the breakaway just seconds away from being gobbled up by the chasers, Remi Cavagna made a big acceleration meaning just himself and Tord Gudmestad were ahead of the main favourites and shortly after they were joined by a further four riders and the gap began to grow out again.

The lead of the front group stagnated at around 45 seconds and Ben Healy of EF Education-EasyPost decided the time was right to accelerate again, attacking of the front of the breakaway. Although he managed a few kilometres on his own, he was drawn back into the bunch but their lead to the peloton had grown to a minute due to his actions.

As the bell rang for the last lap beginning, the time-gap was just 46 seconds and Cavagna accelerated at the front and although he was swiftly brought back by Healy and Dorian Godon, Gudmestad, the only survivor from the early break was finally dropped completely whilst Andreas Kron and Lucas Eriksson tried to battle back into touch with the leading trio.

With 15km to go it was Cavagna's turn to lose the wheel and suddenly there were only two riders at the front of the race in Ben Healy of EF Education-EasyPost and Dorian Godon of AG2R Citroen Team and as they went under the 1km to go marker, Godon was getting visibly frustrated as Healy refused to leave his back wheel.

With Healy simply refusing to ride through, Godon decided to open the sprint. Once he had Healy simply had no answer. Benoit Cosnefroy was the best of the rest securing two podium spots for AG2R.

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