Second in the first stage and fifth in the second stage. Edward Theuns is back in the mix at the Four Days of Dunkirk after a short break of two weeks.

"I had to wait and see how I would feel after two weeks without competition," he told Net Nieuwsblad. "But the fact that I could fight for victory immediately proved that I have worked in the right way and with the right dose of training and rest.

In stage 1 he was only beaten by Bryan Coquard and yesterdat he had to settle for fifth in a rather dangerous sprint. The victory was taken by Swedish Cofidis rider Jonas Ahlstrand who beat Coquard in a photo finish. It was a small miracle that there were no crashes in the finale. The peloton had to tackled no less than three roundabouts in the last 600 meters.

"I had made a plan and just went full gas in the first roundabout. The intention was to get a small advantage in the subsequent corners and try to maintain it. But that plan failed. I gambled and lost," said Edward Theuns. But he is still second behind Coquard in the overall standings. Courtesy of bonus seconds, however, his deficit rose from 4 to 12 seconds.

"But that needs not to be an issue. Friday's stage will almost certainly finish in a mass sprint. I amespecially looking forward to Saturday with the finish in Cassel. There the cards will beshuffled. Coquard sprints well so it is difficult to take bonus seconds in the sprints. I need another plan to take the throne."

Edward Theuns knows that he has to ride aggressively. "I need to do something myself to defeat Coquard. I have to attack him before the finish. I will go for it."