Jonas Ahlstrand of Cofidis has taken victory on the second stage of the Four Days Of Dunkirk.
Bryan Coquard of Team Europcar was the leader after his win in the opening stage for this 178.7kms stage from Fontaine au Pire to Maubeuge.
Another day of three sprints and three climbs saw Julien Antomarchi of Roubaix Lille, Fabrico Ferrari of Caja Rural, Boris Dron of Wanty Group and Maxime Renault of Auber 93 take a lead of six minutes.
Ferrari took the first climb with just over 56 kilometres gone and a lead of 3.40 which was down to 3.30 when Antomarchi took the first sprint of the day and then the second sprint ahead of Ferrari who takes over the sprint leaders jersey.
Boris Dron took the third sprint at Rousles as the lead dropped to 1.52 on a sunny day in Northern France before the riders arrived in Maubeuge which had been the scene of a seige from August to September in 1914, but today was where the finish line was.
The escapers crossed the finish line for the first time with thirty two kilometres to go and stayed away for another twenty kilometres before the peloton led by Europcar's Tommy Voeckler brought them back.
AG2R got on the front but were unable to gain any distance from the peloton which was in single file trailing down the roads that lead to the centre of Maubeuge.
Team Marseille in their Sky Blue kit were joined by Cofidis to work at the front of the peloton.
Under the flam rouge and it was Bora Argon on the front with the race leader handily placed with Edward Theuns in his wheel.
It was a messy sprint and a photofinish as a Cofidis rider in Jonas Ahlstrand took on Coquard and Benjamin Giraud from Team Marseille.
On first glance, it was impossible to say who had won but the commissionaires decided that it had been won in a time of 4.13.50 by Jonas Ahlstrand ahead of Coquard, Giraud, Phil Bauhas and Theuns.
Coquard, who keeps his race lead with a twelve second advantage of Edward Theuns said: "It was very close on the line but I keep my jersey so it was a good day's work. I came down with 350 metres to go but I was a bit short but I will keep on working."
The 25 year Swedish stage winner said: "It was hectic but I managed to come back and get in the right place with four kilometres to go and I'm pleased to have won."