Chris Froome will be on the cobbles but on paper he should be able to deal well with this stage, especially as he has a very strong team at his side. With Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Luke Rowe and Ian Stannard, the British leader will be protect. According to L'Equipe, sports director Nicolas Portal explained that his leader loves the cobbles.

"He loves them. When we did the recognition last year, he went into the cobbles with motivation on all sectors. Sometimes I'm a little concerned with that. When we spotted the cobblestones, there are a few months, he returned as a wild inside. He is clean. He is so keen to do well this stage because he has no apprehension", he explained. 

Portal added that Froome is not apprehensive of the 4th stage. "Personally no more than another stage with falls. On the pavements, positioning level, once you before, it's hard to lose positions. Last year, the falls came in the very first sector. The conditions were complicated, it slipped."

Pinarello, the Team Sky bike brand, has developed a bike with a suspension at the rear. "The bike has more comfort, better it holds its trajectory. After, you need luck", Portal added.