Artem Shmidt, 22-year-old American from Netcompany INEOS and national time trial champion, showcased his qualities as a strong finisher and won the 2026 Classique Dunkerque solo, crossing the finish line at Mont-Saint-Eloi with just a handful of seconds ahead of the group controlled by Frenchman Pierre Gautherat, 23-year-old wearing the Decathlon CMA CGM Team jersey. Third place went to Jordi Meeus of Red Bull - BORA – hansgrohe, who finished ahead of his teammate Alessio Magagnotti in fourth. 

The 202-kilometer race was animated from the opening stages by a trio of attackers: Léandre Huck, a 25-year-old Frenchman riding for Van Rysel Roubaix, Jonas Walton, a Canadian from CIC Pro Cycling Academy, and Axel Mariault, his teammate.  

The latter, a 27-year-old from Brittany, refused to give up and continued his attack until 8 kilometers from the finish when Artem Shmidt, who had just broken away from the group moments earlier, caught and passed him, then pressed on at full speed to the finish line, celebrating his second career victory.