everything you need to know about the 2025 edition of the cycle race

From May 13 to 18, 2025, the 4 days of Dunkirk are back on the northern roads for their 69th edition. Route, dates, new features… we reveal everything you need to know.

It’s official! The 4 days of Dunkirk return for a 69th edition, full of surprises, from May 13 to 18, 2025.

It’s a meeting that brings together lovers of little queens every year in the North. This 69th edition will start on May 13 with a unique event: the classic Dunkerque Hauts-de-France. The following four days, the runners will cross the region of Sainte Catherine to Dunkirk with the ambition of giving “meet the public in the heart of big cities” announces Éric Marchyllie, president of the event. We reveal the program to you.

A first: the classic Dunkirk Hauts-de-France

For the president of the event, “a lot has changed” at the 4 days of Dunkirk, evidenced by the creation of a unique race: the Dunkerque Hauts-de-France classic which will start on May 13, 2025.

By creating this 193.8 km route between Dunkirk and Lens, the organizers wanted to attract “the best teams and the best riders“, promising them to double the number of points distributed in the UCI (International Cycling Union) general classification.

This route, in both the Nord and Pas-de-Calais, does not promise to be a cakewalk for runners. Points of attention: the double passages at Bouvignies and Notre dame de Lorette, and the Côte d’Estrée Blanche already used by the Grand Prix d’Isbergues.

An emblematic city of the former mining basin, Lens has already hosted the competition 6 times. Although the last time was in 2005.

Stage 1: Sainte Catherine – Amiens

After the Classic, the departure “official” of the 69th edition is scheduled 24 hours later in Sainte-Catherine.

The organizers have concocted a 178.2 kilometer course which will challenge the runners from the outset with the ascent of Mont Saint-Éloi, “from the hardest side“.

Along the route, cyclists will travel 40 km to Auxi le Château, which promises them some elevation gain and cobblestones. The arrival will be in Picardy lands with 12.9 km to go, twice.

The finish will give us the first name of the holder of the pink jersey, which rewards the leader in the general classification.

Step 2: Avesnes sur Helpe – Crépy en Valois

On Thursday May 15, the runners get back in the saddle for 180 km between Avesnes sur Helpe and Crépy en Valois.

If the final route of this course is still under study, one thing is certain, the sprinters will be able to express themselves in Ribemont, Coucy le Château and in Crépy. The most combative will fight in Nouvron – Vingré, Coeuvres and Valsery, Pondron and in Fresnoy-la-Rivière.

Step 3: Valenciennes – Famars

The 4 days of Dunkirk had not settled in Valenciennes since 1992, when the Italian Mario Cippolini won.

On 154.2 km between Valenciennes and Famars you should not tremble on the cobblestones. The runners will take a sector of the legendary “Paris-Roubaix” race.

Step 4: The Chapel of Armentières – Cassel

Placed under the sign of novelty, this edition promises surprises in the very layout of the stages. On Saturday March 17, the runners will start from the Chapelle d’Armentières, whose participation is unprecedented, before rushing into the center of Cassel.

They will pass through Porte de Dunkerque, rue du Tambour, rue Desmyttere, place Saint Hilaire, la Grand Place, rue Gaston Moeneclaey. They will then arrive on the famous rue d’Aire and its gate. The circuit, 21.3km long, will be completed 5 times.

Stage 5: Wormhout – Dunkirk

Finally, cyclists will have to make one last pedal stroke on Sunday May 18 between Wormhout and Dunkirk.

The 179.3 km route promises a rather calm departure towards Esquelbecq before heading towards Dunkirk via the Samaritaine.

They will enter the Dunkirk circuit through the Citadel district, which will allow them to discover the city of Jean Bart by sea. At the end of this last stage, we will know the big winner of this 69th edition.

Special feature of this Sunday stage: with the help of the organizers of the “Lille-Hardelot” cycle tour, 1,500 enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the route between Wormhout and Dunkirk.

For those who will not be able to go there, a new documentary produced by Antoine Disle during the 2023 edition will be broadcast in May on France 3 and previewed in the cities hosting the race. It honors the present and past players in cycling.