Milan Fretin takes first pro win with Cavendish-like sprint in Dunkerque: "I was a bit stressed, but I was still able to finish it"

Milan Fretin won the opening stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, the first pro win for the 23-year old Cofidis rider. It was a very intense finale with rain and a late attack that he could close down, in scenes reminiscent of Mark Cavendish's most famous sprint wins.

“It was a very hectic final. We drove all day in the rain and on wet roads. That didn't make it any less dangerous,” Fretin said in a post-race interview. “My teammates did everything they could to position me at the front and then it was a matter of holding on to that place. Not easy with other teams that kept coming up. I can't do anything other than thank my teammates for their work. Luckily I was able to finish their work.”

After the late attack of Paul Hennequin, Cofidis was left to do the leadout with Alexis Renard. The Frenchman looked like he was going to succeed, but Fretin shot off from the peloton like a rocket, using Hennequin's slipstream and taking the win. This was a victory similar to that of Mark Cavendish's 2009 Milano-Sanremo; or the 18th stage of the 2012 Tour de France where the Manxman caught the attackers mid-sprint in incredible fashion.

“I really enjoyed the trust of my teammates. After all, the chance that it would result in a group sprint was high and so it happened," the Belgian added; taking Cofidis' third win of the season - a tab that only opened now in May. "When it became clear that they were going to pull my card completely, I was a bit stressed, but I was still able to finish it... I was looking forward to that first win. Maybe there will be another group sprint on Wednesday and I can have another chance. I'm going to enjoy this stage victory,”