Results Classic Dunkerque 2026 - Artem Shmidt stuns peloton with late solo victory for Netcompany INEOS

Artem Shmidt took a dramatic solo victory at the 2026 Classic Dunkerque / Grand Prix des Hauts-de-France, holding off the chasing peloton after a late attack in the final kilometres towards Mont-Saint-Eloi.

The Netcompany INEOS rider went clear inside the final 15km, first bridging across to long-time breakaway survivor Axel Mariault before dropping him and pressing on alone. Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and EF Education - EasyPost both worked in the peloton late on, but Shmidt still carried his advantage into the final kilometre and held on for victory.

An early move formed almost immediately after the official start, with Axel Mariault and Jonas Walton of CIC Pro Cycling Academy joined by Leandre Huck of Van Rysel Roubaix. The trio moved clear with around 192km still to race and settled into the day’s breakaway.

Mariault led the way at the first intermediate sprint in Fauquembergues, ahead of Huck and Walton, before Walton took maximum points at the sprint in Hucqueliers. The CIC Pro Cycling Academy rider was again first at the Anvin sprint, where Huck crossed second and Mariault third.

Huck was the strongest over the early classified climbs. He took maximum points over Wavrans-sur-l'Aa, followed by Mariault and Walton, and repeated that result at Heuchin, where Walton was second and Mariault third. With just over 60km remaining, the three riders still held a lead of 2:44 over the peloton, where Cofidis and EF Education - EasyPost were among the teams working at the head of the bunch.

The breakaway was reduced inside the final 50km when Walton suffered a flat tyre. He was caught by the peloton with around 40km remaining, leaving Mariault and Huck alone at the front.

EF Education - EasyPost remained active in the chase, with Alastair MacKellar working in the peloton. With just over 30km remaining, Mariault and Huck still led the race, but their advantage had been cut to 1:15.

Huck was then distanced from the front inside the final 25km and caught by the peloton soon afterwards, leaving Mariault alone at the head of the race. Behind him, the peloton began to stretch out as the rain continued and crosswinds hit the race. With around 15km remaining, Mariault still held a 24-second advantage. Riders were dropping from the back of the bunch as the chase continued towards the finale in Mont-Saint-Eloi.

The race came back together around the final 10km, but not for long. Shmidt accelerated from the peloton with around 14km remaining, later joining Mariault at the front before the CIC Pro Cycling Academy rider was dropped and then caught by the bunch.

Shmidt pressed on alone for Netcompany INEOS inside the final 9km. With 5km remaining, EF Education - EasyPost were pulling in the peloton, before Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe took up the chase inside the final 2km.

The catch never came. Shmidt reached the final straight still out front and sealed the second professional victory of his career with a perfectly timed late move.