After two big disappointments, Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep) finally got the elusive first victory at the Tour de France when he used his immense power to narrowly hold off Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) in a brutal uphill sprint on stage 4. After a great lead-out from Maximilano Richeze, the German easily distanced Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and then threw the bike to beat the fast-finishing Frenchman in a photo finish. Sagan finished third and extended his overall lead.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Relieved Marcel Kittel: I was under so much pressure

It probably was the toughest finish of this year’s Tour de France for a flat stage and Marcel Kittel delivered, proving again he’s one of the fastest guys in the peloton and scoring his 11th win of the season and the 34th of the team, one which came after a long day in the saddle and a huge effort by the Etixx – Quick-Step team. As expected, the longest stage of the race had a calm beginning, with just four riders making it in the break – Alexis Gougeard (AG2R), Markel Irizar (Trek-Segafredo), Oliver Naesen (IAM Cycling) and Andreas Schillinger (Bora-Argon 18) – and an explosive finale, which saw Kittel take the win by a whisker ahead of Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie).

 

Stage 4 of the Tour de France, traveling over 237.5 kilometers from Saumur to Limoges (which returned as host town after a 16-year hiatus) was all about the final kilometer, an uphill one with a 6% average gradient in the last 600 meters, which meant the favourites had to be well-positioned in the pack, have enough power in the legs for the tough hill and find the perfect moment to start their effort, aware that timing could prove decisive in the outcome.

 

After Julien Vermote controlled again the peloton, spending countless kilometers at the head of it in the second part of the day, Etixx – Quick-Step played it perfectly in the closing kilometers, hitting the front with around 1200 meters to go, just as things began to spice up. Tour de Suisse points jersey winner Maximiliano Richeze was the last man of Marcel Kittel, who opened his sprint with 300 meters left and took center road, charging towards the line. Powering on the uphill drag, the 28-year-old hold off all his opponents, including Coquard, for one of the smallest winning margins seen by the Tour de France in recent history.

 

“It wasn’t easy for the team and me after the last three days. The ambitions and expectations were high and the pressure was there, especially after getting so many wins in the first part of the season. Yesterday, after the stage, we analysed the finale, talked about our mistakes in a positive way and everyone learned from it. I tried to motivate the boys and today they did a marvelous job. We were there when it mattered, I was brought up in the right position and had a perfect timing”, said Marcel Kittel, who now has 14 Grand Tour victories to his name.

 

By coming out on top on Tuesday, Marcel Kittel surpassed legendary countryman Rudi Altig in most Tour de France stage victories for Germany, sitting now in third overall in an all-time ranking with 9 successes, and also became the first rider to get wins in two Grand Tours this season, after sprinting to victory in the Nijmegen and Arnhem Giro d’Italia stages:

 

“I am super happy and it’s great to return to the Tour de France with such a victory. I knew since yesterday that my legs are strong and wanted to win for the team, who was really incredible. We still have some opportunities ahead in the race, but first we want to enjoy this day.

 

"My physio told me I had won. I felt super proud and so happy. After missing out on the Tour last year, changing teams… the expectations were very high. We came with the goal to win on the 1st stage but we missed out on the yellow jersey. We were disappointed but the team remained focused. I felt the pressure, that also explains the emotion.

 

"I feel very emotional right now – it feels like my first stage win again. I’m super happy. I’m very proud because the team was really fighting for this win. Things went wrong in the last days and I’m so happy to be back in the Tour and to win a stage like this. I can’t believe it.

 

"I heard it from Steven, our physio, he was there with me. They were saying something in the speakers. Suddenly Steven was saying: 'you won'. I gave him a big hug. It was a horrible moment to sit there and wait until you hear your name, or don’t hear it. It was very special and I'm very happy. I was fine in the Giro. The kilometers there helped me to be good here but I needed this victory.

 

"I don’t know if you can explain emotions, they just come out. For me the victory means a lot because I know how hard it was until this moment came, after being sick so many times, missing out on the Tour and so many other race days during the year. For me, personally, it was a big setback in my career and a very difficult moment in my career. I actively tried to take action to make changes, to make improvement for myself for the future, to get back to the level to win great stages in the Tour, to be successful throughout the season.

 

"To see it now working so well – although the start of the Tour was not how we wanted it – is a huge relief. I live for my sport. I never did something else although the critics last year said something else. It shows today how much I love my sport and how much I love winning.

 

“This victory means a lot. I know what I have experienced in recent months. I had some hard knocks, I missed a Tour and I had to question everything. It is a very great relief. I was criticized but I live for my sport and my tears of joy in the mixed zone shows that.

 

"This is a very important day. Not only this year but also in my career. Important because I’m able to show at the highest level of cycling that I’m back, that I can win even it’s a 237km long stage with an uphill finish. The second thing which makes me actually even more proud is that the team that has so much pressure the last three days and expectations managed to turn around.

 

"We came here with the goal to win a stage of course. At the first stage we had our mind on taking the yellow jersey. It didn’t work, it was only second place. The day after Julian only got second. It’s a good result but not what we wanted. To make it even worse we messed up the third day, the third chance to go for a victory. So we had a meeting yesterday. We talked in a very positive and good way about it. We tried to analyze the stage.

 

"I tried to give the confidence back to the boys because I know we have the power and great experience in the team. We don’t have to make mistakes like we did in the first stages. To see them riding like we never did anything else before. Today in the final they stayed really cool as ice. We came at the right moment to the front and were sticking there with me. I knew we had it in us. It makes me very proud.

 

”We had this meeting. The difference is that we remained calm, the plan was followed to perfection. On paper, we have a huge team with Tony Martin and Ilio Keisse who protect us really well and then Vakoc and Alaphilippe get used to it. It is not easy. Winning is the reward for a great job and it's a great time to enjoy together.

 

“It is a reward [that German TV is back]. I have done a lot for them to come back to the Tour, like Andre Greipel, John Degenkolb and Tony Martin. The Tour is back on the biggest German channel and it is very important to have this platform to show our success.”

 

"First of all, it started with a little uphill before, where Marcel and I kind of lost a few places, we kind of lost train and had to fight for 5-6km to get back into position,” Iljo Keisse told Cyclingnews. “In the end everything came back together. It was me and Marcel, then Max and Sabatini came all in the last kilometer, perfect timing, a little bit lucky but I guess that's what you need.

 

"I saw it was really close but we're really happy to have won today. And now the pressure can go a little bit because we started well with two second places, but we needed victories.

 

“It was the same yesterday, you have a small descent then a climb. Always the teams from behind are coming. It's very difficult in the front to keep the front, and if you are in the back you have to avoid the guys going backwards. It was difficult but it all worked out very well today.

 

"Yesterday was frustrating for the whole team, especially for myself, because the train didn't work. We all were too early, it started with myself - I started too early, Tony came too early, everyone came too early, and Marcel there was boxed in at the end. It was very annoying because he had diamond legs. Today we had to work things out perfectly and to show his diamond legs to the world and win the stage.

 

"It was time. After yesterday we were still a bit frustrated. I was too. That is why we are especially pleased that we succeeded. I have seen the photo finish and it was very close, but what counts is the victory, not how many centimeters you won by.

 

"We are here to win and if we do not win it creates extra pressure. Especially the way Marcel wins today makes it special. He had a hard time on the last climb, but continued to fight. Until the last kilometer, he was fighting and he did not slow down, fought for what he was worth. This time we stayed calm and we waited for our moment. It was the plan to start the sprint late and we did it. "

 

"He’s already had a really strong season with a lot of victories, so we will have a nice celebration tonight and I hope a few more victories,” Tony Martin added in an interview with Cyclingnews.

 

White jersey Julian Alaphilippe, who concluded safely the stage in 15th place, thus keeping his second position in the general classification, was equally happy for his teammate:

 

"Today, our goal was to take Marcel to the finish, while Dan and I tried not to lose any time. Can't say it wasn't stressful in the last kilometers, but we overcame all the obstacles. I am very happy for Marcel, he totally deserved this victory. It's incredible to be part of a team which gets the win, it gives you a really special feeling."

 

"I have given them confidence," manager Patrick Lefevere told Sporza. ''We're a good team, we just have to stay calm in the sprint. I think we certainly watched the sprint ten times on video and have made ​​the analysis of the sprint point by point, a sort of debriefing. In football they do that too. Then Marcel said he still had confidence in his teammates, that he knew what they were worth and that he felt that he could win the sprint.

 

"The difference between today and yesterday is that Lotto Soudal now made the mistake we made yesterday which is to take the lead too early. In the Tour you have to launch your sprint from the background, not from the front. Maybe Marcel was still a bit too early in the lead. Luckily his kick made all the difference. We have the stage win but we also think about yellow. This is possible with Alaphilippe. Tomorrow is an important stage for him and Daniel Martin but also the day after tomorrow there are opportunities.

 

"Yesterday we had a good meeting. We put the finger on the wound and realized that Marcel is used to move to the front late, whereas we were spending too much energy before the real sprint. Today went perfectly, coming from second row. He started from far out, maybe too far but it’s important for his morale that he start in front. He wins and then it doesn’t matter how it happened.

 

"After three days in the Tour, there is no reason to lose confidence in the team. Marcel has been good the whole year, already in Dubai. He also has two fantastic victories in the Giro. He got to this Tour with ten victories. We know what he's worth. He was also good before the Tour. We came here to win and that succeeded.”

 

Disappointed Bryan Coquard: Now I am one of the greats

“I really believed in my chances,” Bryan Coquard said. “Jimmy (Engoulvent) yesterday reproached me not to have thrown my bike forward enough. I could see I was making it back but it was not enough.

 

”I'm very disappointed but I must not give up. There are still lots of chances left. I'm glad that we took things into our own hands. I think I belong with the greats now.

 

”There is no mistake in the sprints, the stronger wins. I was never as close to victory but I haven't won yet. I'm young but I'm a winner. I have temperament and I want to win this year on the Tour. I am getting closer. It sucks. I would have liked to raise my arms and cross the line in first. It's hard. Today, I had the feeling. We'll debrief but I can’t see where I lost.

I had done recon of this stage. I knew the first four finishes of the Tour. I was very disappointed on Sunday. There, I gave everything. 

 

“A win at the Tour is something huge.  I say that but I do not know what it is. But I want to have it. I want to have my name up there Well, if I give up now ...  In cycling, you lose more races than yoy win

 

“I heard many people say that Coquard doesn’t have the team to win. Today Coquard almost won with Direct Energie. It’s a solid group that wants to shine. Today, Sylvain Chavanel had only one desire: it was to escape in a stage in Chatellerault near his home. And in the meeting I was able to say no to Sylvain Chavanel. We said no, now it's all for me. I think he will not mind that. 

 

“Today I have not done the intermediate sprint because I wanted to win at the finish. It was a strategy that paid off. We'll see day by day for the green jersey. But, you know, Sagan was able to be in front on a stage with four climbs.”

 

"They say that I am an uphill sprinter but I am able to win a flat sprint with tailwind. I just have to find the right wave, a good gap, the right feeling. Today I got this feeling,”

 

“We’re disappointed for Bryan and for the team, but Bryan has shown in the last two days that he belongs among the best sprinters in the world, and there are still chances for him to get a stage victory,” Chavanel told Eurosport.

 

Peter Sagan: I don’t know the profile of tomorrow’s stage

Having contested the win in every one of the Tour’s stages so far, Peter Sagan, in the yellow jersey of race leader, went for it again today. After a hard-fought finish, which came at the end of the race’s longest stage, the UCI World Champion came from behind to power past rivals and take third in the day’s sprint. At the end of the day, Sagan extends his lead in the yellow and snatches back the green jersey of points leader.

 

After receiving another set of yellow and green jerseys for his collection, Sagan said:

 

"It was a long day, not flat always up and down. I'm very happy to still be in yellow and to take third. I'm back in green also and until now all's going very well."

 

When asked about making Slovakia proud, Sagan added:

 

"I think the Slovakians here are very happy and it makes me happy to see lots of Slovakian flags on the side of the road and to hear them cheering."

 

After a slow start to the stage, where the attacks were failing to stick, it could have been a much slower day, as Sport Director, Steven De Jongh, observed.

 

“In the beginning it looked like it would be a long day but then the attacks came and we had the final situation of the break without the sprinters teams. The guys had to stay attentive when a dangerous move went but Bodi [Maciej Bodnar] was there to control it, and then the situation settled with four away. “

 

With support for Sagan at the front, the remaining team members kept Alberto Contador safe in the frenetic run to the finish – the final 4km was strewn with street furniture, pinch points and roundabouts that caught several teams unawares. Vying for position and battering his way through the sprinters after being boxed in in the last 500m, the UCI World Champion contested the finish, passing many of his rivals, finishing the day in third and extending his lead in the GC and re-taking the green jersey.

 

Happy with his third place, Sagan was already looking at his performance and working out where he could improve – the mark of a true champion.

 

“It was a good finish for me, I just started my sprint too early. The sprint is sometimes a lottery and I think I have to wait a little bit more. I started at the same time as Kittel and it was a long sprint from there. Coquard came later and he almost won. I'm happy with the result and the points, and I still have the yellow jersey - it's going well. Tomorrow is another day, I don't want to think about tomorrow yet. Tomorrow, I don't know how it will play. I need to study the route and see who can be a threat for the jersey.

 

"I can’t complain, I’m happy, I’m still in yellow, I was third, so more points for the green jersey, It’s good. It was nearly 250km with the neutral zone but it wasn’t difficult thanks to the tailwind – it was fine today.

 

"I got third but I'm happy to keep yellow and have the green jersey and stay safe. It's all okay. I'm actually happy for Marcel, its nice to see different riders win the stages.

 

"It was a fast finish, a power finish, a nice one for me. It reminded me of the finish in England (Harrogate), when Cavendish crashed and Kittel won. It was a good sprint for me. It could be better but it could be worse. I started too early today. I started at the same time as Marcel. He kept going but I couldn’t. If I’d waited it would have been better. Coquard made a good sprint. He was patient, he started later and almost won.

 

"I'm trying to enjoy life and cycling, while doing my best. Is it my best Tour de France ever? I don’t know. I’m in yellow but Paris is still a long away. I know I can't have yellow in Paris, so I'm happy to have it now.

 

"We’ll see tomorrow. For sure I try. I’ve just finished one stage and so I don’t want to think about tomorrow yet. I’ve got to switch things, see the stage and perhaps try to stay on. It could be a difficult stage but we’ll see for who. I’ll tell you tomorrow. I hope to have a good day.

 

"Contador had two flat days to recover and I believe he'll be okay for tomorrow. He' a very tough guy and recovers very well. For sure he’ll be there.”

 

Taking third in the sprint after a long day’s racing, De Jongh was pleased that Sagan had extended his lead and taken the green jersey again, and that Contador had been kept safe.

 

“The finish wasn't too technical but was very fast again with a really high speed. Peter did another good sprint - he was on Kittel's wheel but couldn't come past, but third is still a good result and more points. We can be happy with today. It was another safe day for Alberto and he could recover again, and Peter also did another good job for the green jersey and also the yellow too.”

 

After the sprint spectacle of the past four stages, the road starts to head upwards tomorrow. While nothing near the difficulty of the big mountains the riders are to face in the coming weeks, there is a lot of climbing, and tomorrow’sstage sees the race’s first second category climbs in a cluster of five categorised climbs in the final 70km of the day’s 216km route. The hilly profile will make protecting the yellow jersey harder, while the GC riders may not be ready to show their hand just yet. De Jongh was waiting to see how the race developed on the day.

 

“Tomorrow is going to be a different kind of stage. We will see how the situation unfolds but the hills might make it a tense stage.”

 

Alberto Contador: I have to prepare mentally for tomorrow’s stage

“It’s hard for me to pedal sitting out of the saddle, but that’s a question of time,” Contador told CyclingWeekly.

 

“I got through today without crashing, and that’s the most important thing. Tomorrow is a hard day. I have to get ready mentally to take it on. This has been the hardest Tour start of my career.”

 

Optimistic Dylan Groenewegen: I can win a stage in this race

Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to fourth place in the uphill finish of the Tour de France’s fourth stage in Limoges. The Dutch champion of Team LottoNL-Jumbo had to come from far behind during the chaotic final part of the race, but improved over the last days. Marcel Kittel (Etixx - Quick Step) won.

 

“We’re improving,” Groenewegen said while he tried to recover from his long final sprint. “It was tough, but we did a good job with the team. This time, I’m satisfied. I didn’t feel very strong, actually, but Sep Vanmarcke told me that I would be able to pass through that feeling. I got over it and went for it.

 

“We were still in front with four of us for the final. I was boxed in for a while during the sprint, but found some space afterwards to finish fourth. I came from quite far behind, but was able to come back quite strongly. It’s my own fault that I had to come from too far behind, I needed to be further up. My sprint was strong so this is promising for the upcoming stages.”

 

Groenewegen faced many obstacles in the final part of the race and even had to jump over a traffic island.

 

“I don’t like to brake, so I chose to jump,” he continued. “If everything comes together, I might be able to win a stage in this Tour.

 

"There is improvement, but it was spicy. The team also did better today. I am satisfied, my sprint was strong.  The sprint train has only been together for seven months, so it is nice that it is so good. "

 

“Tomorrow I will survive as well as possible. The next day I will sprint again. I hope I can put the arms in the air. I must learn in this Tour. But if all the pieces fall into place, I can win a stage. "

 

Sep Vanmarcke was enthusiastic about the performance.

 

“It was a hard, chaotic final part of the race,” the Belgian said. “We wanted to unite as well as possible, which isn’t easy when it goes uphill, downhill, to the left and to the right. Making matters worse, we lost Robert Wagner because of a puncture.

 

“I’m impressed by Dylan to survive this stage because it really was a tricky one. This fourth place is a beautiful result. We’re moving up as a team. We’re able to bring him from quite far and his final sprint is strong.”

 

Vanmarcke, who took 12th, thought that Groenewegen was still in his wheel during the final metres, but he wasn’t.

 

“It looked like everything ended up quite well when Timo Roosen, Sep and Dylan came back together,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “When Sep moved forward, Dylan got boxed in and lost his wheel. Timo did a strong job to bring him back in position. They moved up on the left side. Dylan had to start is sprint a lot earlier than Kittel, for example, but delivered an impressive final kick.”

 

“When I led out Dylan, I felt how hard it was today,” Roosen explained. “It went uphill and we had to deal with a headwind, as well, so I fell back quite quickly. I still was able to bring Dylan quite far, but he still had to make up a lot of distance. It was very tough today with some tricky climbs in the final part of the race. We had to improvise to bring Dylan in the right position.”

 

“What we’re doing at the moment was our goal before the Tour de France,” Zeeman added. “We’re taking part in the sprints. We experience what sprinting in the Tour de France is about and learn from it. That’s what we want and we’re only able to do that.”

 

On Wednesday, the fifth stage of the Tour de France won’t end up in a bunch sprint.

 

“We’re facing a tough profile with two hard climbs in the final part of it,” Zeeman said. “Wilco Kelderman will be able to survive it and George Bennett might be good enough as well.”

 

Alexander Kristoff: It was better than yesterday

Thinking about taking a win on his 29th birthday, Alexander Kristoff came off the wheel of teammate Jacopo Guarnieri to sprint for the finish line, but the uphill finish was just a little too far for the Norwegian sprinter on Tuesday’s stage 4 and he took fifth place behind stage winner Marcel Kittel.

 

“We went a little bit early but compared to yesterday it was perfect. Jacopo did a very good job. In the end I was hoping the Etixx guy was going to do a little bit longer lead out, because in the end I came into the wind with 250m to go, and that was just a little bit too far. The uphill was OK, usually I am quite good in this type of finish, but today I was not the strongest. Still, it was better than yesterday and with only Marco and Jacopo being my helpers in the sprint, we did a very good job. I wanted to win today on my birthday but unfortunately I was not strong enough in the end,” said Alexander Kristoff.

 

Teammate Michael Mørkøv, usually the last man for the sprint in front of Kristoff, continues to nurse injuries from Saturday’s opening stage, leaving two riders to guide Kristoff into the finish line.

 

“It was really tricky at the end and we managed to be in a good position. It’s not easy with just myself and Marco because Michael is still injured. I knew I was a little too far from the finish, but I saw that the others were coming up and I was worried we would lose position and not be able to get back to the front. So I went ahead and started and in the end I think it was a good job. With only two of us you don’t have as many bullets in your gun, so we had to play it smart. This is a fast sprint and you have to make decisions in a split second,” said lead-out man Jacopo Guarnieri.

 

“The target is always to win and we did not win, but I could see on the video wall that it was a fantastic lead out from Jacopo. I think the last couple of kilometers we managed very well to stay together even with the bump at 8km to go. I was on the way to the front through the last round-about with 3.5km to go and I almost crashed so that was a big pity. I think with one more guy we would have been perfect and we could have done 100 meters more which might have brought Alex to victory. Nevertheless I think it’s nice that we could confirm that we are there and we will go for the wins,” said Marco Haller.

 

Oliver Naesen: I felt that I was the strongest in the breakaway

“This is a great reward for my first Tour de France, and especially since I’m not scorched,” Oliver Naesen said after having been elected the most combative of the day by a jury of specialists as a reward for having powered a break for around 230 kilometers.

 

“There was a lot of activity at the front of the pack with the attempts by the riders from the sprinter’s teams. Rik Verbrugghe was certain to give us the green light to go into the breakaway. I took Alexis Gougeard’s wheel and we escaped. We caught up with the other two riders, and we worked well together to keep our advantage ahead of the peloton. But there was no chance to stay away in this final. I did try to revive the break one last time on that final climb, but there was too much at stake for the pack to let us succeed. At least I do not return to the hotel empty handed. This combativity prize is a great reward.

 

"That's nice. This is the center of the cycling world, it's nice if you can do something here. We did not stay in away, but it was fun. We decided not to blow up too early.

 

"In the group, we didn’t talk much. Irizar was the oldest and told us to ride slower or faster, and to eat and drink. It was fun.

 

"I thought we were on for the same stage as yesterday but the sprinters team pushed hard very early. Our team asked us to try to get in the breakaway and I got at the front of the race. It was incredible. There's so much people on the roadside… And they are very enthusastic. I hoped we would make it to the finish, you never know, even if those breakaways end up to be overtaken 95% of the time. I felt I was stronger than my companions. That's a pity.

 

"Will I try it again? Yes, but rather in a ride where I have more chances to stay away. In this stage, I knew it would be difficult.

 

Sondre Holst Enger disappointed after sprinting to sixth at the Tour

Sondre Holst Enger earned his second sixth place finish in as many days after a suspenseful sprint which was won in another photo finish by Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) ahead of Bryan Coquard. Nevertheless, Holst Enger, who at 22 is the youngest rider in the peloton, was not entirely pleased with his splendid performance. 

 

“I am disappointed because there are guys who were able to put out more power on this false flat finish. It was a really difficult arrival, and my legs failed me in the last 100 meters.”

 

Given by Rik Verbrugghe, sports manager of IAM Cycling, added:

 

“I am happy with the team. Oliver responded well when I told them that I wanted one of our riders in the breakaway. He found the right wheel to take, and proved his strength by being voted the most combative award. As for Sondre Holst Enger, he confirmed all his best qualities by taking another very good sixth place in this sprint that was reserved for the beefy riders. He needs to address just two or three details in order to play realistically for the win.”

 

“Tomorrow it will be very important to be in the break because it will be the first foray into the mountains and the favorites will be taking the measure of each other for the first time,” Rik Verbrugghe confirmed.

Oliver Naesen (€2000 for the combativity prize) and Sondre Holst Enger (€780 for his placing) earned € 2780 during the course of the fourth stage from Saumur to Limoges.

 

Daniel McLay confirms his sprint potential at the Tour de France

He progresses day by day! Today Dan McLay was 7th for Fortuneo-Vital Concept

After attacking in the first three stages of the Tour de France the team stayed in the peloton to prepare the sprint for McLay.

 

"It was a finish that suited me. I am seventh which is a good result but above all I learn the lessons of each sprint. I will do the next with more confidence. I'll try play my chance 100%. I learn every time.”

 

Mark Cavendish: I didn’t get it right today

Race leader, Sagan, sent his team up to control proceedings from the peloton and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were the first to lend them a helping hand as Natnael Berhane began assisting the Russian team with the chase. The gap was pretty much locked at around the 4-minute mark, and the peloton was confident that it would be able to bring the escapees back.

 

As the race came into Limoges, and after Natnael Berhane had done a sterling job together with the Tinkoff and Etixx-Quickstep domestiques, the break was caught at 7km to go. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka had all grouped around Mark Cavendish and Edvald Boasson Hagen for the finale, but a small hill at 6km to go disrupted the rhythm of the peloton somewhat.

 

With 4km to go there was a precarious intersection that caused a bottle neck and from thereon it was a slightly disorganised sprint. With 500m to go, Boasson Hagen tried to move Cavendish up to the head of the peloton but the Norwegian was pushed into the barriers and no longer in contention from that point.

 

Cavendish, slightly boxed in on the right side of the peloton, was never really able to find a clean bit of road to start sprinting. Cavendish had to settle with 8th position on the stage.

 

"I was kind of in the wrong position,” Cavendish told ITV. “It was a bit sketchy – with 5km to go I nearly crashed and I lost my lead-out. They were coming up in ones and two and I didn't know who to follow. Then I didn’t want to hit it too early.

 

"I thought I would be on Kittel's wheel; I thought that would be the best one. In the last 1km I was in, but the next thing it was survival, trying to dodge the guys coming back. Instead of concentrating on the sprint, I was concentrating on getting around the lead-out guys.

 

"You have to get everything right, it’s not just you against one other person, but nearly 200. That’s what it is, and I didn’t get it right today.

 

"I'm a little bit tired now. It was a long old day that."

 

 

Bernhard Eisel said:

 

“At the start we knew it was going to be another long, long day just like yesterday, probably even half an hour longer. Nobody wanted to attack, nobody wanted to ride in the beginning. Then in one moment there was an attack of 7 riders, we had Natnael there, with a total of 5 sprinter teams represented in the move so that mixed up everything. The next 15km was chock-o-block full gas. That changed the situation and 4 guys got away.

 

”It was a good rolling day, not too hard, it was a nice day. It was not a recovery day at all but the fatigue didn't get too much worse. It was a little breather before a big hard day tomorrow. But the sun is out now and there were no major crashes today or tumbles, at least our team stayed upright. We didn’t get the result that we wished for, but it was a good day.

 

“Tomorrow is hillier and I hope the sun comes out and stays out. Tomorrow will definitely be a harder day than today. It could be a breakaway day. I’m not sure that Tinkoff will control the race to keep yellow for [Peter] Sagan. Their goal is with Alberto [Contador] and there is a long way to go.”

 

“It was difficult to judge with the downhill,” Mark Renshaw told Eurosport. “Cavendish lost us with a couple km to go in some of those fast corners, then he started probably too far back. But we’ve had a good start. We didn’t win today but there will be more opportunities.

 

“We’ve done a good job with just a few guys to help. It’s not like the past, so I think we’ve done a good job and it shows we’ve got confidence in each other."

 

Samuel Dumoulin: This stage was a goal for me

Ag2r had Samuel Dumoulin in 9th, Alexis Gougeard in the break and protected Romain Bardet.

 

"This stage was a little goal for me,” Dumoulin said. “The day before, I was not too confident but today there was more rhythm. I left it to Jan [Bakelants] and Cyril [Gautier] to take care of Romain and I did my own race. I had good legs but without teammates it’s complicated. I am satisfied with my performance and glad to see Alexis at the front. "

 

Alexis Gougeard: The legs are not there

"I wanted to test my legs and the test was inconclusive,” Gougeard said. “Initially it was good but I soon realized it was going to be a long day.  I probably made ​​the mistake of attacking but now it's done. We'll have to try to recover well. For now the legs are not there, it is a little disappointing.  After my crash at the Dauphiné, I am a little behind with my preparation. I wish it will go better for me. I had a bad day. "

 

Romain Bardet sees Alaphilippe as favourite for his home stage

"The Auvergne region is approaching,” Romain Bardet said. “Lioran is my region. I have all my family in Cantal. The stage takes place ten kilometers from the home of my grandmother so these are the roads I know well. 
 

”Everyone is waiting for this stage because it offers the first small climbs. It's a nice starter, even if it is nothing comparable to what awaits us in the Pyrenees and Alps. No one will want to lose time.

 

”I think the stage will be quite open. The puncheurs that are capable of going well up and down should be favored. Julian Alaphilippe is for me the favorite, like Dan Martin. Sagan can also have a good day. 
 

”This is the medium mountains, it is tortuous. It is a route with poor visibility, with small roads.”

 

Orica-BikeExchange: The stage was easier than we had expected

Stage four of the Tour de France climaxed in another hectic sprint today with Simon Gerrans finishing in 10th place for Orica-BikeExchange and the Australian squad retaining their lead of the team classification.

 

2014 Liege-Bastogne –Liege winner Gerrans was in a good position for the finale alongside teammate Michael Matthews after excellent work from Daryl Impey and Michael Albasini in the battle for position.

 

The sprint was crowded, chaotic and very fast with Orica-BikeExchange going for a two-pronged attack with Gerrans and Matthews attempting to break through against the pure sprinters.

 

Matthews crossed the line in 14th place and moves up to 9th on the general classification going into stage five.

 

Sport director Matt White explained the team’s tactics for the finale and the difficulties of competing against the out and out sprinters.

 

“We did a recon of the finish in the morning and it wasn’t as difficult as we expected,” said White. “There was only a slight gradient which resulted in the biggest sprinters in the world making it through and going head to head to the line.

 

”It was a very fast run in and the guys carried a lot of speed into the finale, but it didn’t really suit our capabilities and we didn’t have the power to match up with the big guns.

 

“We had decided before hand that tactically we were going in with two approaches,” explained White. “We had Simon (Gerrans) just behind Daryl (Impey) and they were going to try and hit out early but unfortunately couldn’t get through."

 

“Then we had Michael (Matthews) following the favourite Peter Sagan and trying to match him but despite our efforts it wasn’t to be today.

 

“Tomorrow could be a good day for the breakaway, the racing has been fairly negative at the start of the stages, but the hilly profile could certainly suit the breakaway.”

 

Markel Irizar: It was not my plan to go in the break

Stage four from Saumur to Limoges, the longest of the 2016 Tour de France at 237.5 kilometers, was tipped for the sprinters again, but it did not stop Markel Irizar from jumping in the day's breakaway when he saw what appeared a dangerous move going clear.

 

"It was not the plan to go in the break," explained Irizar. "But in the beginning, there was a group of seven riders and all the sprinters' teams had someone - Lotto, Orica GreenEdge, Tinkoff – so I knew we need to be there, too. Then Kim (Andersen, director) told me they were pulling behind, and so I decided to save the legs.

 

"When a few dropped, and we were only four guys there was nothing to do but keep going. Once you are there, what can you do? You just try and that's it. I was just there to help the team. Then, just after we were caught, I was unlukcy and had a flat tire with five kilometers to go."

 

The peloton never gave the quartet much lead, playing with them like a yo-yo as they dangled out front. With 80 kilometers remaining the string was pulled to 1 minute and 40 seconds before allowing the gap to swell to two minutes again.

 

Hanging at 30 seconds for the final 30 kilometers the breakaway soldiered on until the peloton finally ended the merciless game, swallowing Markel Irizar and the last remaining two riders and leaving the stage to the sprinters as expected.

 

Edward Theuns: This was a missed opportunity

In the rush to the line, Edward Theuns found himself pushed to the right side barriers with no room to move out. Boxed in, he lost all momentum ahead of the final 500 uphill meters and 11th was the best he could muster.

 

"With around five kilometers to go I missed a few corners and Jasper (Stuyven) picked me up and took me to the front with three to go," said Theuns. "There was a dangerous narrow roundabout where I again lost a lot of places and again I came back and made it close to the front.

 

"But when I wanted to go for the sprint I think I had to brake 3 or 4 times in the last 500 meters and if you have to brake once in this kind of finish it's already too much. It's too bad because this finish suits me – it's a missed chance."

 

Jasper Stuyven: It’s not my biggest goal to defend this jersey

Jasper Stuyven will continue in polka-dots for tomorrow's hilly stage five where his defense of the jersey will come under attack with six classified climbs. Stuyven's reign in the mountain's jersey may well come to an end Tuesday but never count the savvy young Belgian down and out.

 

"It was a good day. I was happy that the speed was a little higher than yesterday. It was a actually a race today with a good final. So not too hard. It was a good race day, nothing special, and a hectic final again,” he said.

 

"I think I won’t be here tomorrow. You never know, but it’s not my biggest goal to spend all my energy just to maybe keep it another day, because after is another hard day with a lot of points to get, so we’ll see. I have enjoyed the three days, with tomorrow, then we’ll see what will happen next in this Tour.

 

"I just hope to keep the good legs and chase a stage win. We’re getting close to it. It’s not easy but I’ll try.”

 

Alejandro Valverde eyes the yellow jersey in stage 5

The longest stage in the 2016 Tour de France -237.5km between Saumur and Limoges was miles away from monotony suffered by most fans on day three of the race, as the furious pace in the final ups and downs through the Limousin hills left room for another breathtaking finish, with an even narrower margin than in the eve, between Marcel Kittel (EQS, 1st) and Bryan Coquard (DEN, 2nd).

 

Movistar Team worked as ordered as they did in previous stages, most notably with Erviti, Herrada and a huge Ion Izagirre in the uphill sections of the closing 20km. The Blues were safe in the bunch as Alejandro Valverde, 16th across the line - kept third place overall, with Nairo Quintana now in seventh.

 

Arrieta and Chente's lads will finally get into the mountains on Wednesday, the 'Grande Boucle' heading into another long route through the Massif Central on stage five (216km). The final hour of racing will include the cols of Nerome (Cat-3); Puy Mary (Cat-2; 5.4km at 8.1%); Perthus (Cat-2; 4.4km at 7.9%) and Font de Cère (Cat-3), the latter just next to the finish in Le Lioran – perfect terrain to chase the 'maillot jaune'.

 

Alejandro Valverde said:

 

"It was a super fast stage, yet we got through the day in the best of possible ways. A complicated finale is forecast for tomorrow, when it comes to terrain; one might say it's dangerous, but I consider the stages we just left behind more problematic for me than Wednesday's.

 

”We're in perfect position at the moment, and it's logical to think we could get even closer to yellow tomorrow, even lead the race myself, but I make this clear yet another time today: we came here to support Nairo. Should the opportunity arise, we won't avoid it, but our sights are clear. All in all, it was another good day for us."

 

Nairo Quintana: I feel strong

Nairo Quintana said:

 

"A very dangerous day for all of us, but we got to the finish safe and sound, just like we've done during this Tour so far. Let's hope our legs keep rolling just as well tomorrow for the team; tackling the mountains means we get into our 'bread and butter', that terrain that suits us best. It will still be a difficult race, but we're hopeful that we will do well. We've got a strong team and I'm felling myself strong."

 

“It’s a day of truth for Contador, though,” manager Eusebio Unzué added in an interview with Cyclingweekly. “Contador could find himself in trouble if he doesn’t recover. If he loses time like the other day, it’s a show that his body is not recovered.”
 

Richie Porte: I don’t think I will try to attack tomorrow

Richie Porte said:

 

“It was a good day. At least we didn’t go as slow as yesterday, but it’s another one ticked off and I’m looking forward to getting to the climbs tomorrow. We have done the recon on tomorrow’s stage and there are a couple of nasty climbs in there. But also the run in is a nasty, technical downhill so that could play a part in it too. There’s a bit of a kick to the finish so for sure the last 40 kilometers are really going to trim the field a little bit. Which is a good thing, it won’t be so hectic as it has been.

 

"With the downhill finish, I don't think you're going to make up much time but it's still a hard finish. You've got to take the initiative sometime but I don't think tomorrow is it.

 

Tejay van Garderen: You won’t see Sagan up there in stage 5

Tejay van Garderen said:

 

“I’m really excited to head to the hills and get the GC sorted out a bit more. I think it will be a little less nervous and we’ll get a sense of who’s going well and who’s not. Richie and I did the recon [of stage 5] together and it’s a tricky stage. It’s not going to be as hard as the Pyrenees but it will shake things up. You’re not going to see Sagan and Cavendish up there.”

 

Failed lead-out costly for John Degenkolb in the Tour de France

Team Giant-Alpecin had been visible as the peloton hurtled into the destination town and they all worked tirelessly to lead John Degenkolb into position, but the team lost each other in the finale and the German was not able to compete in the sprint. However, Warren Barguil was well protected and he crossed the finish line safely in the peloton after Marcel Kittel had sealed the win.

 

Simon Geschke said: “The final was really hectic and really fast. There were more riders in the breakaway today so we rode faster in the bunch and we had some tailwind throughout the stage. In the final, the last 50km were really nervous, always fighting for position. In the end, we managed to get Warren in a safe position and we didn’t lose any time.”

 

Ramon Sinkeldam added: “The stage was very long today and the final was really fast which ended up in a hectic sprint like the previous days. Overall it was not a very pleasant day. In our lead-out, we lost each other a few times, and we couldn’t find a good position at the front. Tomorrow the first mountain stage starts and probably some more guys will want to attack. That’s when the real race starts and then it is up to Warren.”

 

Coach Aike Visbeek said: “The plan was to go for John and everything went pretty okay during the stage. But in the final 5km, the guys lost each other at a critical point with 1.5km to go. It was really hectic and then John had to spend too much energy to get back into position. Therefore he could not have a good sprint.”

 

André Greipel: I simply had no power

Lotto Soudal was attentively at the front of the peloton in order to position André Greipel for the sprint. Unfortunately, the German champion couldn’t finish it off in the very tough finish.

 

“Everything went good until 250 metres to go. I’m just sorry for my teammates. I think they did a really good job today. I stepped on the pedals and had no power left. That’s all,” he told Sporza

 

”I tried my best. The team tried their best. I don’t know why and how. I felt good during the stage. Maybe the final was too hard. That can be. Normally a final like this suits me quite well but I don’t know, I just had no power.

 

“We were the whole time controlling, taking the responsibility during the finale as well. It was just on me that I had not the legs. Sometime you win, sometimes you lose. That’s cycling I guess. I will not put my head in the sand. I believe in it.”

 

“We were good in the downhill and we were able to stay out of trouble. Maybe it was the heat that made Andre miss his punch,” Jurgen Roelandts told Sporza. “Tomorrow the sun also rises. We have two more chances in this first week but we need to win.”

 

“We tried to provide Greipel with the comfortable feeling of being in front instead of riding in tenth position,” manager Marc Sergeant told Cyclingnews and Sporza. “Nevertheless something wasn’t right. There’s many stages left, even though we would’ve loved to have won before the others got one. Cavendish has two wins, Kittel now has a win. The problem is that other teams might say that it’s too hard that day and then you’re alone to do the chasing work. Winning the first bunch sprint is a big difference on the mental front.

 

“André has always been a guarantee on at least one stage win, once in the sixth stage and once in the fifteenth stage. There’ll be a few more opportunities coming our way to get a stage win. At the Tour you always have to perform a reset because if you take along the defeats then it’s not going to work out.”

 

“We wanted to keep Greipel in front. Everyone knows that Andre wants to be in front and must feel comfortable in preparation for the sprint. Zero out of three is indeed a disappointment. But at the Tour you have to start from scratch every day.”

 

Frustrated Christophe Laporte misses out due to near-crash

For Cofidis, Geoffrey Soupe finished 20th while Christophe Laporte could not the sprint after being boxed in.

 

Soupe said: 
 

"There was a narrowing with three kilometers to go and the majority of the team found themselves trapped. Some had to dismount, others lost a lot of places. I passed but it was too late.”

 

Laporte said:

 

"I touched an opponent at full speed. I had to slow down and almost stopped. When I started, I was in 100th position and it was over. It leaves me with regret because I felt strong on the last climb. Things went well and we managed to do well. You can not always avoid such mishaps. But I didn’t crash.

 

Cofidis captain on the mend at the Tour de France

Cofidis GC rider Arnold Jeannesson said: 

"It's getting better since my crash last Sunday but it is too early to say that this is only a distant memory as I have still pain. Even if the feelings are still not good it does not prevent me from rding and I am in good condition. Wednesday is the first test in the mountains. So far, despite the risks, I focus on the goal of targeting the general classification. While I'm in the game, I will hang on.”

Nicolas Edet added:
 

"My start of Tour de France went well. The sensations are good and I did not crash. Now it gets nice: I enter the most interesting part for me as an aggressive climber. On this stage to Lioran, I will have the chance to attack with the target of a stage win, or I will stay with Arnold.

 

Fabio Aru and Vincenzo Nibali ready for first test in the mountains

The longest stage of this Tour de France is behind us and, in the narrow final in Limoges, the Astana Pro Team riders were quite confident in the front positions of the bunch.

 

Fabio Aru and Vincenzo Nibali looked good in the crucial moments of the stage. After the shower all the journalist's questions were about tomorrow’s stage in Massif Central, from Limoges to Le Lioran (216 km), characterized by 4 climbs in the last 50 km.

 

“In the final today we did well by keeping the front and avoiding any risk,” explained Vincenzo Nibali. “Tomorrow’s stage is important like every stage of this first week is important: I saw the map and the final part looks quite difficult, let’s see how the race will develop.”

 

“In the final today we went so fast and everyone was fighting to keep the front positions of the bunch,”  said Fabio Aru after the shower. “As a team we worked good and I’m happy with this. Tomorrow’s stage has a narrow final, with climbs and descents, we will try not to lose any seconds to the other GC contenders.”

 

Chris Froome: Tomorrow’s stage is for Alaphilippe, Valverde and Martin

Chris Froome survived a late scare on stage four of the Tour de France to finish comfortably in the bunch after another day for the sprinters into Limoges.

 

Marcel Kittel (Etixx - Quick-Step) emerged victorious in a photo finish with Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) after a tough uphill drag to the line, while Froome recovered from a tricky moment four kilometres from the line to finish in the bunch.

 

A pinch point prior to a tough roundabout saw Froome all but stop and the peloton became stretched to breaking point, but he was able to battle back to the middle of the bunch with support from his team-mates.

 

Despite recording the same time as stage winner Kittel, Froome slipped to fifth overall due to stage placings, with Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) leapfrogging him to move into fourth.

 

After the stage Froome explained the difficulty of mixing it with the sprinters in the lead up to a bunch finish.

 

He said: "It makes for a lot of stress - we don't want to be up there, we want the sprinters to do their thing and not be in the way, but when Grand Tours can be won or lost by seconds we've got to be up there fighting.

 

“That's the nature of our sport. When there's so much at stake - a stage win at the Tour means so much to so many people - guys are going to put their bodies on the line for that.

 

“I think it’s one for the UCI and the unions to discuss. Certainly there’s room for discussion around the point. My suggestion would be to do away with the one-second rule for the gaps, because that’s why all the GC guys are up there; we’re doing our jobs. If we’re not there racing for those splits we’re not doing our jobs properly, so of course we’re up there with the sprinters.

 

“It does make for a lot of stress. We don’t want to be up there. We want the sprinters to do their thing and not be up there in their way. But when Tour can be won or lost by seconds we’ve got to be up there fighting for those seconds. So my suggestion would be to maybe do away with the one-second rule. Make it a five second rule so that the splits aren’t so easy to come by and it’s a bit more relaxed coming into the final.”

 

Looking ahead to the tougher stage five, Froome compared it to Sunday's second stage, which saw a select bunch do battle for the win.

 

He added: "It will be similar to stage two but harder, more selective. There will probably be a few tired legs out there - even though these days have been relatively easy, they've still been 250km stages.

 

"I think it's a bit too early to see a real GC battle but it's definitely somewhere where there will be time gaps. It won't be a bunch sprint. Maybe it's a stage for someone like [Julian] Alaphilippe, [Alejandro] Valverde or Dan Martin.

 

“He [Valverde] seems to be in good nick and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him ride for GC and looking after himself, and then have a two-pronged approach with Nairo. They’ve definitely got the team to do it. Until he loses time I’ve got to treat him like a rival.”

 

Team Sky moved to the front just after the catch with Vasil Kiryienka leading our train to keep Froome out of trouble, before the roundabout caused chaos in the bunch. Thankfully nobody went down and the sprint unfolded safely, with Kittel prevailing to win his first stage of the race.

 

Speaking back at the bus Sport Director Servais Knaven was pleased to get through another day in France.

 

He said: "We're happy to pass another stage safely. The start was easy and then quite a big group went with some sprinter teams in it, so then the other sprinter's teams had to chase it down, so that was a different start to normal! Then it was controlled like yesterday.

 

"Towards the end the sprinters wanted to be in a good position and of course our guys did too. Our goal for the day was not to lose time and we were a little further back than we wanted to be, which just goes to show that it's not always easy. But there was no time loss for Froomey, and that's all good."

 

Davide Cimolai left disappointed in uphill sprint at the Tour

Lampre-Merida's sprinter Davide Cimolai aimed to achieve a good result in a finale which was suitable for his qualities.

 

 

With 500 meters to go, Cimolai was behind the front part of the group and he could not increase his speed in the sprint when the the road started to go slightly upward. The blue-fuchsia-green rider crossed the finish line in 39th.

 

"I'm not satisfied, my goal was to obtain a position in the top 10 and I failed,” Cimolai commented. “After I had no perfect feeling in yesterday’s finishin Angers, I hoped that the finish in Limoges could help me to be more competitive. The race went well until the end, where I upped the pace in the final kilometers to take me to the first part of the group. However I could not change the pace when it was necessary to be faster in the final 500 meters on the small climb.”

 

There was nothing to take note of for the other Lampre-Merida riders. In the overall classification, Rui Costa is 17th at 18", Meintjes is 30th at 29".

 

“We were expecting that today would have been an identical stage to yesterday, quiet and something even boring, but no,” Rui Costa said. “We did ​​a quick stage. The tension was high and so it was important to be attentive and not admire the scenery. But that's what we're here to do: to compete. The final was intense, with the positioning of the teams for the sprint. Luckily everything went well, with no crashes and I could save the day.”

 

Andreas Schillinger shows the Bora-Argon 18 jersey at the Tour de France

Bora-Argon 18 worked day for Shane Archbold. There were also good news for Sam Bennett, who recovers better day by day. Today he saved his energy for the upcoming days.

 

Bora-Argon 18 rider Andreas Schillinger pushed from the beginning very hard and was in the first leading group with 6 other guys. Schillinger and Markel Irizar (Trek) dropped the other riders and when Alexis Gougeard (AG2R) and Oliver Naesen (IAM) came from behind, the group began to cooperate

 

Schillinger took the only sprint of the stage, which have him 20 points in the fight for the green jersey. With 8k to go the break was over. Shane Archbold was not able to fight for the first places on the uphill finishing straight.

 

The two young guns of BORA – ARGON 18 Patrick Konrad und Emanuel Buchmann arrived with no time loss so they remain in 8th and 9th place in the young rider classification.

 

“Our plan was that I was going in the break today. It was a big benefit that we had a good tailwind. Even when our gap was more than 5 minutes, I knew there was no chance to make it to the finish so I decided to savee some energy for tomorrow. The final was so tough and the next stages will be even tougher,” Schillinger said.

 

FDJ: It is time for Thibaut Pinot to start to climb

The first part of the Tour de France ended in Limoges for the FDJ team and the first assessment is good. Thibaut Pinot only lost 11 seconds and all his teammates are operational and fit.

 

"Tonight Thibaut is not very talkative,” says sports director Yvon Madiot. “The flat stages have to be survived and he wants a climb every day. Tomorrow, it's not the mountains but he will happily tackle the four climbs and be on the small chainring. Frankly, it's good to do so after four days and not at the end of a full week. My team is more comfortable in the mountains than on the flat. And it's time for us to climb.

 

"Today we were vigilant in Chatellerault because they talked about wind in the plain. But we stayed relaxed, there was no panic. In the end we were a bit too far back but we knew there was a big fight and it will stay together in Limoges. The guys slalomed to pass riders who sat up but the main goal was achieved:  Thibaut lost no time!”

 

"Tomorrow the stage is long (216 km) and even though the climbs are not long, we will be in our terrain. It is obvious.”