May 6, 2006 – Here are the results from stage four of Dunkirk:

Results:

1 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.55.20 (38.641 km/h)
2 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.12
3 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole
4 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Unibet.com
5 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.16
6 Johan Coenen (Bel) Unibet.com 0.18
7 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Skil-Shimano
8 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic
9 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears 0.20
10 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team Wiesenhof
Akud

Overall

1 Roberto Petito (Ita) Team Tenax Salmilano 18.00.45
2 Stéphane Petilleau (Fra) Groupe Sportif Bretagne-Jean Floc’h 0.04
3 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.18
4 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole 0.20
5 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Unibet.com 0.27
6 Johan Coenen (Bel) Unibet.com 0.33
7 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step-Innergetic
8 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears
9 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Skil-Shimano
10 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team Wiesenhof Akud 0.35

May 9, 2004 – Yesterday's stage four of the 2004 edition of the 4 Days of Dunkirk was the day everyone knew would be the most difficult, and probably most decisive day of the tour. A 20 km preface took the 126 remaining starters to 7-1/2 laps of a 28 km circuit that was a continuous roller coaster of climbs and descents. The loop was punctuated by five distinct peaks that were connected by narrow, undulating roads. On the second pass of the circuit, a break of seven escaped. VanHecke (Bodysol), Jegou (CA), VanHyfte (Vlaanderen), Voscamp (Choc. Jaques) Hulsmans (Quickstep), Auger(RAGT), and Mengin(FDJ), snapped free on one of longer climbs and built a two minute lead. Although Landbouwkredit Colnago had the leaders jersey on the back of Tuesday's breakaway hammer, Marc Streel, the understanding in the peloton was that the Brioches la Boulangere pair of Chavanel and Rous would be the men to beat on this tough circuit. The bakery sponsored team from the Vendee region is known for its mastery of this type of terrain, and the team did not hesitate to take control of the situation, and limit the escapee's advantage.

Riding tempo for five laps, the “Baker Boys” contained, and slowly reeled in the break, while putting a large percentage of the field in difficulty behind. With 2.5 laps to go, Colnago's Ruslan Gryshenko, and Rabobank's Thor Venebere jumped across to the leaders who were still just under two minutes clear, but starting to come apart. One lap later, Venebere and Vanheche were alone, when US Postal's young Belgian, Stijn Devolder slashed out with Vlaanderen's Geoff Demeyer. The field was shattered behind, splintered into many small groups, with Boulangere still in control of the main chase, and Streel, in the pink leaders jersey, several minutes behind. Devolder caught and passed the two leaders, building a nearly 1.5 minute lead before Chavanel set out to make his mark. He was fast in shutting down the gap, but Devolder had a sizable lead, and the finish line was getting closer. As Chavanel rounded the last turn, leading to the 800-meter uphill finish, the gap was 20″, but AG2R'S former World Champ Laurent Brochard, and C.A.'s Pierrick Fedrigo had the Frenchman in their sights. Devolder held on for a 17 second victory as Brochard took 2nd from Fedrigo and Chavanel, with the next group another 40″ back.

Chavanel took the leaders jersey with Brochard moving into 2nd, and Rous now third. 104 riders will start Sunday's double stage day with a 12km TT, followed in the afternoon with a 98 km circuit race in downtown Dunkirk.

Stage-4 Results: 1. Stijn Devolder (Bel) US Postal Service 2. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 3. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Credit Agricole

Overall G.C.: 1. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 18.56.37 2. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 0.49 3. Didier Rous (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 0.50