Arnaud Démare (FDJ) sprinted to victory in the inaugural stage of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque, between Dunkerque and Courrières, to take the first pink leader’s jersey of the race.

The former under-23 world champion benefitted from a commanding leadout from his FDJ team and, although he came under challenge from Kenny van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM), effortlessly saw off van Hummel’s late challenge to win the race to the line.

"At three km from the finish line we were slightly disorganised but we ended up being together as we went under the red flame,” explained Démare on the FDJ website after the stage. “Geoffrey Soupe and Mickael Delage did a great job and I just had to sit on their wheel! I'm super happy, it's really a team win!"