4 Jours de Dunkerque: Natnael Tesfazion wins uphill sprint as an isolated Laurence Pithie holds on to race lead

Natnael Tesfazion of Movistar secured a significant victory on stage 4 of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, winning the demanding queen stage that finished atop the steep Rue d’Aire in Cassel. The Eritrean rider launched the decisive sprint from the front of a breakaway group, crossing the line three seconds ahead of Stan Dewulf (Decathlon CMA CGM), with Kim Heiduk (Netcompany Ineos) completing the podium. This marked Tesfazion’s first win in two years, a triumph made even more special as it coincided with both his birthday and Eritrea’s Independence Day. The stage itself was characterised by a series of aggressive moves and tactical reshuffles, with multiple riders bridging across to the leading group in the final 15 kilometres. An initial breakaway of five riders, including mountains leader Victor Papon, was gradually reeled in by the peloton, which was led by Uno-X Mobility. Despite efforts to organise a chase, the reduced peloton failed to close the gap to the escapees, allowing the break to contest the finish. Tesfazion’s late attack on the cobbles and subsequent sprint proved decisive in a race that featured two tough climbs, the Rue de Tambour and the Rue d’Aire. Race leader Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) faced a challenging day, riding isolated in the peloton and forced to respond alone to several attacks aimed at threatening his overall lead. Liam Slock (Lotto Intermarché), who had started the day 16 seconds behind Pithie, was the main challenger but ultimately could not match the final accelerations, finishing fifth on the stage. Pithie managed to hold onto the leader’s jersey by a margin of seven seconds over Tesfazion, with Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility) dropping to third overall. Looking ahead, the race concludes with a largely flat 181.3km stage from Saint-Omer to Dunkerque, expected to favour the sprinters and likely to maintain the current general classification order. Pithie’s ability to defend his lead under pressure on the queen stage bodes well for his chances, but the final day will be crucial for any remaining contenders hoping to overturn the standings. Tesfazion’s resurgence and strong form also add an intriguing dynamic to the closing stage of this 70th edition of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque.