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The 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts de France is a race that, despite its name, is raced over 6 stages. The event, first held in 1955, takes place in the Hauts de France region in northern France and passes through towns like Compiègne and Roubaix, famous for hosting the start and finish of the Paris-Roubaix classic. This region is mostly flat and lacks major mountains, making it one of the stage races that best suits cyclists who usually excel in one-day races, short climbs, and cobbled sections.

Route

Of the 6 stages that make up the race, the first, fourth, and last ones are mostly flat, and it is likely that we will see three (more or less selected) sprints, while the general classification will be decided on the final wall on stage 2, the 16-kilometer individual time trial on stage 3, and the cobbles on stages 4 and 5. It should be noted that often the bonuses in the intermediate and final sprints are a key factor in this race, which is difficult to win without at least a decent sprint.

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A balanced combination of sprint, punch and time trial skills is the ideal combination to win in Dunkerque. Maximilian Walscheid (400), Ethan Vernon (200), Arnaud de Lie (400), Benoît Cosnefroy (400), Benjamin Thomas (400), Kasper Asgreen (600), Florian Sénéchal (400), Peter Sagan (600), Cees Bol (200), Olav Kooij (1000), or Samuel Watson (200) are some of the most notable names on the start list.

Photo: © 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts