Artem Shmidt Delivers First Pro Win as American Wave Continues

American rider Artem Shmidt powered to the biggest victory of his young career Sunday to win the rain-soaked Classique Dunkerque in northern France.

The 22-year-old, already the reigning U.S. national time trial champion, steamrolled the demanding 202.7km race with a daring long-range attack in brutal conditions.

“Artem Shmidt wins the Classique Dunkerque,” the squad posted on social media. “The American cruises across the line solo to claim a maiden pro road race victory. What a brilliant ride in tough conditions to claim the first win of the Netcompany Ineos era.”

An early three-rider breakaway dominated much of the one-day race before the towering Shmidt — who stands 1.91m and weighs 76kg — launched his decisive move on the first passage of the finish.

The former Hagens Berman Jayco prospect bridged across and dropped the final survivor of the escape, and held off the charging peloton alone to seal his first professional victory on European roads.

Frenchman Pierre Gautherat finished second, with Jordi Meeus rounding out the podium.

Shmidt joined the British superteam as a stagiaire in 2024 before turning professional last year in his first full WorldTour campaign.

Along with Filippo Ganna winning Tuesday’s time trial at the Giro d’Italia, the victories also mark the first since IT company Netcompany officially joined as co-title sponsor last month.

10 wins and counting for Americans in 2026

Shmidt’s breakthrough adds to a remarkable wave of American success across Europe in 2026.

U.S. riders have now posted 10 victories on European roads this season, including Riley Sheehan’s recent triumph at the Circuit de Wallonie.

The momentum continued Sunday when Kate Courtney won the final stage of the Tour de Féminin in the Czech Republic with the U.S. national team, securing the first European road victory of her career and the first by an American woman in Europe this season.

Classique Dunkerque results