GP DE FOUR MI ES L AV O IX DU NO RD

Mention northern France to a cycling fan and they’ll think immediately of ParisRoubaix. But while the pavé of the Queen of Classics commands global attention, there are popular, historic and well-supported races below the behemoth in the Nord. The GP Fourmies is one of these and it always attracts a strong crew of the world’s sprinters and classics riders who can make the most of the fast course. This year the small photographic corps was treated to a Tour sprint rematch including Marcel Kittel, John Degenkolb, Dan McLay and Nacer Bouhanni. Bouhanni got a revenge of sorts with his victory here.

Fourmies is a small town of 12,000 people and is very characteristic of places along the Franco-Belgian border: red brick houses, a small square, cafés and tabacs to while away the days. The surrounding countryside is heavily wooded, giving the race a close atmosphere. The GP de Fourmies stretches right back to 1928 and is the biggest fête on the town’s annual calendar. Two hours before the start, the Place de Verdun was already packed with spectators enjoying the buzz of race day and the early autumn sunshine.

Logistically, it’s a complicated course with four separate laps which all converge on Fourmies. Spectators who stayed in town saw the race pass eight times, but even outside, many of the bigger villages would see the race two or three times as well; it’s a race that belongs to the community. The feed zone was close to the border with Belgium so riders had a choice: gels and energy drink on one side of the road and frites and beer stalls on the other. Community, food and family combined to give a beautiful atmosphere to a race that’s a big deal to the locals.