Description
May 20, 2026
70th 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts de France 2026 🇫🇷 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Lagny-le-Sec – Laon : 177,3 km
4 Jours de Dunkerque is a UCI 2.Pro classification that unfolds across the flat yet tactically demanding landscapes of northern France’s Flanders region,
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May 20, 2026
70th 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts de France 2026 🇫🇷 (2.Pro) ME – Stage 1 – Lagny-le-Sec – Laon : 177,3 km
4 Jours de Dunkerque is a UCI 2.Pro classification that unfolds across the flat yet tactically demanding landscapes of northern France’s Flanders region, where the roads weave through a patchwork of open farmland, coastal plains, and industrial zones under skies often heavy with Atlantic winds. The terrain is predominantly flat, with long, straight stretches that encourage high speeds, but the race is rarely a straightforward affair. The roads are frequently exposed to relentless crosswinds blowing in from the North Sea, turning the peloton into a battleground of echelons and splits, while short, punchy climbs like the Mont des Cats or Côte de Cassel offer brief but explosive ramps where attacks can launch. The descents are fast and technical, their narrow lanes and sharp bends demanding precision, while the flatter sections often feature cobbled sectors or rough road surfaces that add an extra layer of difficulty. The race dynamics are shaped by these wind-exposed stretches and short, sharp climbs, with attacks launching during moments of crosswind chaos or on the steepest ramps, the peloton thinning as riders fight to hold position. The final kilometers often feature a fast, technical run-in through the streets of Dunkirk, where a bunch sprint decides the outcome, or a small group of riders who have escaped the chaos battle it out in a tense, high-speed finish. The Quatre Jours de Dunkerque is a race that rewards endurance, tactical intelligence, and adaptability, blending the raw beauty of Flanders’ countryside with the relentless challenge of its winds, climbs, and unpredictable conditions.
Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed an emphatic victory on the opening stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, out-sprinting Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Lewis Askey (NSN) at the Citadelle de Laon.
Askey started his sprint early into a sweeping bend leading to the finish but could not hold off the charging Kiwi, who secured the overall race leader’s jersey with his victory.
It was Pithie’s second win within the space of a week after taking out the Rund um Köln on Sunday.
“The team did an excellent job today,” Pithie said. “It was a relatively easy day, but the final lap was a real challenge. I gave it my all on the home stretch. I’m very happy with this victory. Köln has given me a lot of confidence for this week.
How it unfolded
It was a mixed bag of weather for the 177.3km opening stage from Lagny-le-Sec to Laon, with light showers affecting the mid-point of the stage, but fortunately letting up before the technical finale.
The day’s early breakaway took a while to form, but eventually Tom Mainguenaud and Victor Papon (Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur) and Kévin Avoine and Arnaud Tendon (Van Rysel Roubaix) and Lenaic Langella (CIC Academy) went clear after 28 kilometres of racing.
The peloton kept their lead to less than a minute, but after Langella was dropped with 68km to go, the quartet held a lead of around 90 seconds.
However, the peloton began to chase more earnestly with 40km to go and reduced it quickly to half a minute.
Before the final intermediate sprint, the breakaway’s gap was down to 10 seconds with 24km to go. In the rush to survive to the sprint line, Mainguenaud and Avoine lost touch with Papon and Tendon.
Papon led Tendon across the line and then the breakaway was promptly swept up by the peloton at the start of the final circuit with 21km to go.
However, after winning three of the four classified mountain sprints, Papon walked away with the mountains jersey for the next day.
On the twisting, undulating final lap, there were attacks and crashes but nothing could disrupt the sprinters’ ambitions.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe led into the final climb to the line at the Citadelle de Laon but a crash mid-pack caused some consternation.
NSN, Groupama-FDJ United and Ineos got through to take the lead, with Askey leading into the final bend only to be overhauled by Pithie for the win.
Results :
 ME - Stage 1 </strong> - Lagny-le-Sec - Laon : 177,3 km
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4 Jours de Dunkerque is a UCI 2.Pro classification that unfolds across the flat yet tactically demanding landscapes of northern France’s Flanders region, where the roads weave through a patchwork of open farmland, coastal plains, and industrial zones under skies often heavy with Atlantic winds. The terrain is predominantly flat, with long, straight stretches that encourage high speeds, but the race is rarely a straightforward affair. The roads are frequently exposed to relentless crosswinds blowing in from the North Sea, turning the peloton into a battleground of echelons and splits, while short, punchy climbs like the Mont des Cats or Côte de Cassel offer brief but explosive ramps where attacks can launch. The descents are fast and technical, their narrow lanes and sharp bends demanding precision, while the flatter sections often feature cobbled sectors or rough road surfaces that add an extra layer of difficulty. The race dynamics are shaped by these wind-exposed stretches and short, sharp climbs, with attacks launching during moments of crosswind chaos or on the steepest ramps, the peloton thinning as riders fight to hold position. The final kilometers often feature a fast, technical run-in through the streets of Dunkirk, where a bunch sprint decides the outcome, or a small group of riders who have escaped the chaos battle it out in a tense, high-speed finish. The Quatre Jours de Dunkerque is a race that rewards endurance, tactical intelligence, and adaptability, blending the raw beauty of Flanders’ countryside with the relentless challenge of its winds, climbs, and unpredictable conditions.
Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed an emphatic victory on the opening stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, out-sprinting Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Lewis Askey (NSN) at the Citadelle de Laon.
Askey started his sprint early into a sweeping bend leading to the finish but could not hold off the charging Kiwi, who secured the overall race leader's jersey with his victory.
It was Pithie's second win within the space of a week after taking out the Rund um Köln on Sunday.
"The team did an excellent job today," Pithie said. "It was a relatively easy day, but the final lap was a real challenge. I gave it my all on the home stretch. I’m very happy with this victory. Köln has given me a lot of confidence for this week.
<strong>How it unfolded</strong>
It was a mixed bag of weather for the 177.3km opening stage from Lagny-le-Sec to Laon, with light showers affecting the mid-point of the stage, but fortunately letting up before the technical finale.
The day's early breakaway took a while to form, but eventually Tom Mainguenaud and Victor Papon (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur) and Kévin Avoine and Arnaud Tendon (Van Rysel Roubaix) and Lenaic Langella (CIC Academy) went clear after 28 kilometres of racing.
The peloton kept their lead to less than a minute, but after Langella was dropped with 68km to go, the quartet held a lead of around 90 seconds.
However, the peloton began to chase more earnestly with 40km to go and reduced it quickly to half a minute.
Before the final intermediate sprint, the breakaway's gap was down to 10 seconds with 24km to go. In the rush to survive to the sprint line, Mainguenaud and Avoine lost touch with Papon and Tendon.
Papon led Tendon across the line and then the breakaway was promptly swept up by the peloton at the start of the final circuit with 21km to go.
However, after winning three of the four classified mountain sprints, Papon walked away with the mountains jersey for the next day.
On the twisting, undulating final lap, there were attacks and crashes but nothing could disrupt the sprinters' ambitions.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe led into the final climb to the line at the Citadelle de Laon but a crash mid-pack caused some consternation.
NSN, Groupama-FDJ United and Ineos got through to take the lead, with Askey leading into the final bend only to be overhauled by Pithie for the win.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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