Title: Luca Mozzato Receives Medical Treatment as Tour de France Peloton Remains Relaxed
Subtitle: Stage 4 offers sprinters another chance to battle it out on a flat course from Dax to Nogaro
Date: July 4, 2023
Injuries continue to plague Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-Samsic) as he visits the doctors once again for dressing changes following his crash on stage 2 of the Tour de France. Despite his injuries, Mozzato managed to finish 12th in the sprint race yesterday, showcasing his determination and resilience.
As the race progresses, the Tour de France peloton remains in a relaxed state. With 165 kilometers to go on stage 4, the status quo prevails, and no early attacks have been witnessed. The flat parcours for the day seems to have discouraged riders from pushing the pace or attempting any breakaways.
Former teammates Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) engage in a friendly conversation during the stage. Both don the World Champions bands on their jerseys, with Cavendish expected to shine in the sprint finish and Alaphilippe playing a significant role in supporting Jakobsen’s lead-out.
Surprisingly, no French team riders have made any attempts to break away, despite the opportunity for TV time. The bunch rides with smiles on their faces, enjoying a second calm day on the bike after the explosive opening stages.
The parcours lives up to expectations, delivering a calm start with no desire from riders to disrupt the pace or create early breakaways that ultimately cannot succeed.
Victor Lafay (Cofidis) is pictured in the green jersey, which may be his last stage wearing it as he is tied on points with Philipsen. Lafay is joined by André Darrigade, a legendary sprinter who won 22 stages of the Tour de France in his career and clinched the points classification twice. Lafay surely has his sights set on today’s finish in Nogaro.
Stage 4 marks the final flat stage before entering the Pyrenees, where the race will encounter the challenging mountains on the French and Spanish border. Riders and teams complete their sign-ons in Dax, preparing for the upcoming stage.
Mark Cavendish, enjoying his final Tour de France, is expected to contend for today’s stage victory. Starting the day in sixth place, Cavendish shares his thoughts on yesterday’s race and his hopes to break Eddy Merckx’s record for the most stage wins in Tour history.
Criticism emerged yesterday over safety concerns regarding the finish design. Sprinters complained about the barriers and chicane inside the final kilometer, which caused Jasper Philipsen to deviate and subsequently impacted Wout Van Aert. Riders like Fabio Jakobsen expressed their concerns after the finish, highlighting the dangers of such finishes.
Stage 3 witnessed Philipsen claiming the victory in a bunch sprint, overcoming controversy surrounding his potential deviation. He hopes to secure another stage win in today’s race.
Stage 4 offers another opportunity for sprinters to showcase their skills on a 181.8km route from Dax to Nogaro. With an easy day ahead and only the presence of a category 4 climb, riders can expect a relaxing ride through the scenic route.
As the tour progresses, stay tuned for more updates and exciting racing action in the 2023 Tour de France.