4 Jours de Dunkerque: Laurence Pithie surges past Lewis Askey on twisty finale for win on opening stage

Laurence Pithie of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe secured a commanding victory on the opening stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, outpacing Bryan Coquard and Lewis Askey in a thrilling uphill sprint finish at the Citadelle de Laon. Askey launched his sprint early on a sweeping bend but was ultimately overtaken by the charging New Zealander, who also claimed the overall race leader’s jersey with this performance. This win marked Pithie’s second triumph in the space of a week, following his recent success at the Rund um Köln. The 177.3-kilometre stage from Lagny-le-Sec to Laon featured a varied weather pattern, with light showers mid-race that cleared before the technical finale. A breakaway group formed after 28 kilometres, consisting of riders from Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur, Van Rysel Roubaix, and CIC Academy, but their lead was kept under a minute for much of the day. The peloton intensified its chase in the final 40 kilometres, gradually reeling in the escapees before they were caught with 21 kilometres remaining. Notably, Victor Papon dominated the mountain sprints, securing the mountains jersey for the following day. The closing circuit was marked by aggressive tactics and a few crashes, but the sprinters’ teams managed to maintain control as the race approached the final climb. Despite a mid-pack crash causing some disruption, teams such as NSN, Groupama-FDJ United, and Ineos positioned their riders well for the finale. Lewis Askey led into the last bend but was ultimately surpassed by Pithie, who timed his effort perfectly to take the stage win. Pithie’s victory not only sets a positive tone for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe but also highlights his growing prowess in sprint finishes, especially on challenging terrain. The stage outcome injects fresh excitement into the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, signalling a competitive race ahead with several riders and teams poised to challenge for the overall classification. The mountains jersey secured by Papon adds another layer of intrigue as the race progresses.