"We don’t look like idiots here" - Visma DS defends Per Strand Hagenes and team tactics at GP de Denain

The 2026 GP de Denain saw two figures emerge stronger than the rest of the field: Per Strand Hagenes and Alec Segaert. The latter had more in the tank on the final decisive kilometers of the race, however, and perfectly timed the catch and attack against the Visma rider. There was questioning of Hagenes' tactics, but the team was not bothered by that.

"I saw a very young, fantastic team. They did exactly what we agreed beforehand. We’ll take that with us, because it looked really good," team DS Robert Wagner said in an interview with In de Leiderstrui. The two attacked with just over 40 kilometers to go and carved a gap over the chasing groups that was never big but always held. In the final cobbled sector, they had enough of a lead that Hagenes decided not to follow the collaboration to the finish, but instead look for a solo win.

He distanced the Bahrain - Victorious rider, but Segaert then maintained his distance. The gap was suspiciously small for several kilometers, but it seemed as if Segaert didn't want to close it down immediately. Meanwhile Hagenes did not wait, as said by Wagner, because he wanted to avoid a sprint finish.

Eventually Hagenes cracked in the final 3 kilometers and Segaert caught him, attacking immediately for a solo victory. "We’re in the team car, while people at home are watching from the couch. From there, everything always looks easy. Per knew the gaps to both Segaert and the peloton. He knew Alec was close behind, but Per showed courage and absolutely didn’t want a sprint," Wagner explained.

"He wanted to go solo to the finish, and it says enough that Segaert called him the strongest on the cobbles today. Chapeau to Alec, by the way. Per went all-in, and we don’t look like idiots here".

The Norwegian was left without a result, but put in another very promising performance. Visma has lost Tiesj Benoot, Dylan van Baarle and the van Dijke twins; whilst Matteo Jorgenson is not racing in the cobbles. This left a meaningful hole around Wout Van Aert; however, Hagens is stepping up to the task.

"From my side, it’s only compliments for Per. It shows once again how big a step he has taken since last season. Now he should really look ahead to the upcoming classics—that’s what we’re excited about. We deliberately chose not to ride Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice, and Per is in superb form. He showed again today just how strong he is, but it was two kilometres too far".

Alongside Christophe Laporte, Matthew Brennan, Tim Rex, and Timo Kielich, Hagenes seems to be forming part of what looks to be a very promising block for the spring classics that lie ahead. The potential he showed in the past might now be converted into results on the road, too.

"Per is definitely a card we hope to play, but everything has to fall into place. He’s showing he’s in excellent condition, and if he can take another small step after races like this, we can head into the classics with a lot of confidence".

Wagner’s defense of Hagenes highlights a shift in Visma’s 2026 philosophy. In previous years, the team might have played for the safest possible result to secure UCI points. However, with the 'Big Three' (Van Aert, Jorgenson, Laporte) missing or focused on bigger fish, Hagenes has been given the green light to 'race like a winner' rather than a domestic. While the 2026 GP de Denain will be remembered for the Segaert catch, the fact that Hagenes forced a world-class engine like Segaert to chase for 5km shows a level of raw power that confirms his status as a legitimate secondary leader for the upcoming Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.