Organizers announce changes to the route of the 54th edition of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque race, scheduled for May 6-11, 2008, after resolving issues related to a few start and finish locations along the route. At issue were the start of the second stage, the finish of the third stage and the start of the fourth stage.
The departure of stage two has been sorted out after organizers learned a host hotel in the Lille region would still very likely be under construction at the time. Instead, stage two will leave from the Commercial Center "Maison +" of Hénin-Beaumont in Pas-de-Calais.
Stage three will end in the Department of the Aisne in Saint-Quentin, and the final stage will depart from the village of Wasquehal in the North. The new route implies a long transfer for teams between Saint-Quentin and Wasquehal, the type of transfer organizers always sought to avoid.
The final details of the new route will be sorted out during the next five weeks with a deadline of January 17. In 2007 the May race was won by Frenchman Mathieu Ladagnous (Française des Jeux).
Schedule for 4 Days of Dunkerque Tuesday, May 6, 2008: Stage 1: Dunkerque - Communauté d'Agglo. Wednesday, May 7, 2008: Stage 2: Centre Commercial "Maison +" d'Henin-Beaumont - Le Cateau Cambrésis Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Stage 3: Le Cateau-Cambrésis - Saint Quentin Friday, May 9, 2008: Stage 4: Wasquehal - Calais Saturday, May 10, Stage 5: Calais - Sangatte "Cap Blanc Nez" Sunday, May 11, 2008: Stage 6: Dunkerque "Casino" - Dunkerque "Centre" (individual time trial) Sunday, May 11, 2008: Stage 7: Dunkerque "Kursaal" - Dunkerque "Centre"
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