"I was at my limit" - Segaert judges effort to perfection in decisive attack against Per Hagenes
Cycling
After seeing victory slip away in the final metres of Nokere Koerse, Alec Segaert joined forces with Per Strand Hagenes of Team Visma | Lease a Bike with 48 kilometres to go, before powering to a convincing win at the 2026 Grand Prix de Denain.
In the flash interview after crossing the finish line, the 23-year-old Bahrain - Victorious rider could hardly contain his emotions. "This is one of the most incredible feelings, this is why we ride", said Segaert.
"This race was already special to me. I always loved it. To be able to win here now, especially after what happened yesterday, is incredible", Segaert explained.
The young Belgian then spoke about the decisive moment of the race. "I think there were still about 40 or 45 kilometres to go when I managed to go clear together with Per. There are not many riders in the peloton who can go faster on the cobbles than Per. Today he showed again that he is super strong. I think he stayed at the front for as long as possible."
On the final cobbled sector, the Visma rider launched a strong attack and opened a small gap on the Belgian. "But in this race you also have to think: how can I win? He attacked me. I was really at my limit. I thought: I can come back, but I played the game a bit."
"I kept the gap at around twenty metres. I hoped the peloton would not catch me and that he would slow down a little. Then, with my last reserves of strength, I came back in the final two kilometres and attacked immediately."
At Nokere Koerse the day before, the outcome had been painful, with Segaert losing his chance of victory with the finish line already in sight. "Unlike yesterday, I managed to hold on until the finish."
Segaert also spoke about the races that will shape the remainder of his spring Classics campaign. "Next Friday I will ride E3 Saxo Classic. After that come all the big Flemish classics: Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders. Then I will come back here for Paris-Roubaix."
Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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