GP de Denain 2026 preview, profiles, favourites & predictions - Meeus, Morgado, Del Grosso & De Lie do battle on Northern French cobbles
Cycling
Taking place on the 19th of March, the GP de Denain is the second of three consecutive non-World Tour semi-classics which mark the spring calendar. We take a look at its profile, the race expected to start and finish at 11:20 and 15:45CET.
The French race was created in 1959 and has always given space to the classics specialists on the flat cobbled sectors and historic roads of northern France, whilst also giving the sprinters room for success in the race. Thor Hushovd, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Arnaud Démare, Nacer Bouhanni marked the previous generation of winners.
But in recent years the list has continued to have great winners, with Mathieu van der Poel winning in 2019 and Jasper Philipsen in 2021, both before they've reached their prime. In 2025 it was Matthew Brennan who took the win, perhaps another rider who will go down a similar path in the peloton.
Read also
Profile: Denain - Denain

Denain - Denain, 200.5 kilometers
The 200-kilometer long race is the 'Continental Paris-Roubaix, featuring a lot of the same roads towards the finale, in a region that is sacred to pros and amateurs alike. It is a completely flat semi-classic, which has 13 cobbled sectors.
The riders will have to go through the same train of thought as in Roubaix, with furious leadout battles into the cobbled sectors proving key to avoiding crashes and mishaps; technique and luck being key in the dangerous roads themselves; whilst endurance and raw power will always play a factor in the final kilometers back into Denain.
Predictions GP de Denain 2026
*** Jordi Meeus
** Antonio Morgado, Arnaud de Lie, Tibor del Grosso
* Gianni Vermeersch, Cees Bol, Axel Zingle, Tim Torn Teutenberg
** Antonio Morgado, Arnaud de Lie, Tibor del Grosso
* Gianni Vermeersch, Cees Bol, Axel Zingle, Tim Torn Teutenberg
Pick: Jordi Meeus

Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 3visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
- Why should he 'let it go' ! Because you said so? Anytime LA Doper is called out is a win win !frieders302-11-2026
- Geez LeMond...let it go. You're a has been, albeit a former great one. But this is all water under the bridge and just undermines your legacy further.Mshark01-11-2026
- 'The Slovenian has collected four Tour de France titles' ... '[Kieran Wood's] ... reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis'. i would say that is pretty inaccurate accurate coverage, kieran wood ... too bad that AI's knowledge often lags several months behind ... but proof reading is certainly part of accurate coverage, isn't it? but fortunately does Kieran Wood place 'strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.' i would say the fifth tdf title is pretty new (and even verified) information, so feel free to update this article.Ketterechts01-11-2026
- You are wrong, they are already working on his new tt position. And yes, Trump does love you 😂👍🏼awp01-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment







