France 20 May – 24 May 2026 Class 2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
Website www.4joursdedunkerque.com
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 70th edition of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts-de-France takes place from May 19 to May 24, 2026. Despite its historical name, the event actually spans six days of racing across the Hauts-de-France region, kicking off with a standalone Classique followed by a 5-stage main race covering roughly 871 kilometers.
Here is the complete program and stage breakdown for the 2026 event:
The Opening Classique
Before the official multi-stage race begins, the week opens with a single-day classic:
- Tuesday, May 19: Classique Dunkerque – Mont-Saint-Éloi
Official Stage Schedule (May 20 – 24, 2026)
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Key Features |
| Stage 1 | Wed, May 20 | Lagny-le-Sec to Laon | 177.3 km | Hilly finale, including the historic Chemin des Dames. (Won by Laurence Pithie) |
| Stage 2 | Thu, May 21 | Glisy to Liévin | 187.4 km | Flat terrain, highly anticipated to end in a bunch sprint. |
| Stage 3 | Fri, May 22 | La Sentinelle to Wallers-Arenberg | 157.7 km | Cobbled showcase featuring 8 laps on the 3-star Hélesmes sector. |
| Stage 4 | Sat, May 23 | Bergues to Cassel | 167.2 km | The Queen Stage. 6 laps on the brutal Mont Cassel circuit, featuring the pavé of Porte d’Aire. |
| Stage 5 | Sun, May 24 | Saint-Omer to Dunkerque | 181.3 km | Grand finale. Rolling start over Mont des Cats, finishing with 7 urban laps in Dunkirk. |
Where to Watch
If you are tuning in to catch the action live, the race is being broadcast on:
Eurosport / HBO Max
La Chaîne L’Équipe (Free-to-air in France)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts-de-France is one of the most storied and unique events on the European cycling calendar. Known for its fierce crosswinds, cobbled sectors, and short but brutal northern hills, the race occupies a special place in French cycling folklore.
Here is the history of how a local four-day race evolved into a premier six-day cycling spectacle.
1. The Origins: Truly Four Days (1955)
The race was founded in 1955 by a group of local cycling enthusiasts from the Dunkirk area, led by René Quillot.
- The Original Format: In its inaugural year, the event stayed true to its name, lasting exactly four days and featuring four stages.
- The First Champion: The legendary French rider Louis Déprez won the first edition.
The race quickly gained a reputation for being an incredibly tough test of endurance. Located in the far north of France (the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region), riders had to battle unpredictable spring weather, punishing cobblestones, and the relentless winds blowing off the North Sea.
2. Evolution of the Format and Name
As the race grew in popularity and attracted bigger international teams, four days simply weren’t enough to accommodate the routes the organizers wanted to include.
- The Expansion: In 1963, the race expanded to five days, and by 1969, it became a six-day event (often including a time trial or split stages).
- Why keep the name? Despite the extra days, the organizers kept “4 Jours de Dunkerque” because it had already become a highly recognizable brand in international cycling.
- The Modern Rebrand: In 2017, the race officially appended “Grand Prix des Hauts-de-France” to its title. This reflected the restructuring of French regions and a broader route that now spans the entire northern territory of France.
3. The Iconic Terrain: Cassel and the Cobbles
While the race visits different towns every year, its identity is anchored by two elements:
The Circuit of Cassel
The “Queen Stage” of the race almost always revolves around Mont Cassel, a prominent hill in French Flanders. The riders must tackle a grueling urban circuit that includes a steep, cobbled climb up to the town center. Climbing it multiple times in a single afternoon routinely shatters the peloton and decides the overall winner.
The Cobbles (Pavé)
Because of its geographic location, the race frequently utilizes the same cobbled sectors made famous by the Spring Classics like Paris-Roubaix. It serves as a playground for “Classics specialists”—riders who thrive in heavy positioning battles and brutal terrain.
4. Legendary Champions
The honor roll of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque features some of the greatest names in cycling history.
- The Greats: Iconic riders like Jacques Anquetil (1958, 1959, 1966), Freddy Maertens (1975, 1978), and Bernard Hinault (1984) have all stood on the top step of the podium.
- The Record Holder: French rider Freddy Maertens and Irish legend Sean Kelly both performed brilliantly here, but the absolute record for most overall victories belongs to Freddy Maertens and Jente Biermans‘ predecessors? No, the record is actually held by French sprinter Arnaud Démare and Belgian icon Freddy Maertens who are among the multi-time winners, but Freddy Maertens sits high with two wins. The ultimate record holder is actually Jacques Anquetil with 3 victories.
- The Modern Era: In the 2000s and 2010s, the race became a hunting ground for world-class sprinters and power riders, notably Philippe Gilbert, Arnaud Démare, and Bryan Coquard.
5. The Race Today
Today, the race is classified as a UCI ProSeries event. It acts as a crucial mid-season objective for second-tier ProTeams looking to prove themselves against WorldTour components, and a perfect preparation ground for riders targeting the summer Grand Tours.
It remains celebrated for its festive, populist atmosphere, drawing hundreds of thousands of passionate northern French fans to the roadsides every May.
