The 4 jours de Dunkerque: what to know about the 2023 edition

The first edition of this traditional road race from the north of France dates back to 1955. Despite its name, this stage race, an emblem of the Hauts-de-France region, runs over 6 days. Who will climb to the top step of the podium and take the place of 2022 winner Gilbert PHILIPPE? What are the features and innovations of the 4 jours de Dunkerque Grand Prix des Hauts-de-France, 2023 edition ? Here's everything you need to know!

The 4 jours de Dunkerque: the 2023 route

Traditionally, this race includes flat stages, a hilly stage and a stage described as "rugged". This year sees the return of a time trial, along with the compulsory passage through several cobbled sectors, which had also been left out of recent editions.

Day 1 — Tuesday 16 May: Dunkirk — Abbeville

📍193.5 km

• start: 11:45am
• finish: 4:45pm

Day 2 — Wednesday 17 May: Compiègne — Laon

📍165 km

• start: 12:15pm
• finish: 4:30pm

Day 3 — Thursday 18 May: Saint-Quentin

⏱️15.9 km time trial.

Missing from recent editions, the individual event has been brought back at the request of the sport directors. Each rider will ride a loop around Saint-Quentin (passing through the towns of Omissy, Morcourt and Rouvroy) with an average duration of 24 minutes.

• first rider off: 2:30pm
• last rider off: 5:01pm

This time trial lets us watch the riders on a very fast section and a slightly more technical one, so as not to "break" the race.
Joël Huysman, route director

Day 4 — Friday 19 May: Maubeuge — Achicourt

📍165 km

• start: 12:10pm
• finish: 4:40pm

New for 2023, the return of 4 cobbled sectors on this stage :

• from Quérénaing to Verchain-Maugré
• Paillencourt
• from Emerchicourt to Monchecourt
• from Hamel to Bellonne

Day 5 — Saturday 20 May: Roubaix — Cassel

📍183.7 km

A legendary city, inseparable from the finish line of the equally famous "Paris-Roubaix", Roubaix is the start town for this second-to-last day. The riders then head towards Flanders and its hills, with a dramatic finish on Mont Cassel. Topping out at 176 metres, Cassel is a fine battleground, with its winding cobbled roads and an average 9% gradient, to decide who takes the pink jersey on this gruelling day.

• finish: 5:40pm

Day 6 — Sunday 21 May: Avion — Dunkirk

📍182 km

• Final stage starting from Avion, near Arras.
• The finish is set for boulevard Sainte-Barbe in Dunkirk. Before crossing the line, the riders will complete 8 laps of an 8.9 km circuit.

A few numbers on the 4 jours de Dunkerque

• 67th edition
• 1,100 kilometres covered
• 265 towns crossed
• 6 days of racing
• 5 départements involved
• 19 teams (4 continental, 9 Pro teams, 7 World Tour)
• 122 riders at the start

Hats off to the "les 4 jours de Dunkerque" association, run by 15 dedicated volunteers. This professional cycling race is a real institution for fans of the sport. It boosts the profile of an entire region, crossing 5 départements of the Hauts-de-France (Aisne, Oise, Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme). Cycling fans — plentiful in our region and among our Belgian neighbours — will line the roads to admire and cheer on the riders in this exceptional edition.

Sources:

https://www.4joursdedunkerque.com/
https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/culture-loisirs/decouvrez-le-parcours-de-l-edition-2023-des-4-jours-de-dunkerque-a-travers-les-hauts-de-france-9420378
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8hg6uh