Leader of the Tour de France, Wout Van Aert attacked on the Cap Blanc-Nez hill nine kilometers from the finish to win the 4e stage which linked Dunkirk to Calais.
The big coup de force of the Jumbo-Visma will have animated this 4th stage which will not always have been exciting. In the final, Wout Van Aert offered the spectators a number worthy of the greats of cycling. This is the Belgian’s 7th stage victory which consolidates his first place in the general classification.
The fact of the day
Wednesday’s stage and the cobblestones were already on everyone’s mind. This 4e race day didn’t offer much spectacle until the last ten kilometres. Yes but now, the Jumbo-Visma had decided to make Wout Van Aert win. In the Cap Blanc-Nez coast, the Yellow and Black sprinted up and placed the yellow jersey in an armchair. The Belgian even offered himself the luxury of placing a final attack at the top of the bump, making everyone crack (including his leader Primoz Roglic). As a strong rider, Wout Van Aert did not turn around and resisted alone against the peloton. He won this Tour de France 2022 for the first time, after finishing second three times.
A few seconds later, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin) settled the sprint of the peloton and took second place in this 4e stage. A very disappointing result for the Belgian who thought he had won when he crossed the finish line… Frenchman Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) completed the podium. Peter Sagan (Total Energies) took fifth place in the stage behind Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert). The Slovak from the French outfit was cited as one of the favorites but couldn’t keep up with Van Aert’s frightening pace in the final.
Magnus Cort Nielsen still up front
The white jersey with red polka dots continues to impress. Magnus Cort Nielsen was still up front today and picked up five of the six possible points for today’s top climber classification. On a stage where the courageous lacked to go on the offensive, only the Frenchman Anthony Perez was at the front to accompany him. The Cofidis rider even pushed ahead alone before being caught by the peloton at the foot of the Cap Blanc-Nez hill. Thanks to this number (very close to the base camp of his team*), the Frenchman is designated the most combative of the day.
Number of the day: 2
This is the number of riders present in the breakaway of the day. Only two… It was a good opportunity to go on the offensive on this hilly course. To show the jersey first, then take bonuses and why not play for the win… Surprising. Only Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF) decided to start from kilometer zero. Damage to the animation of the race.
Tweet of the day
40 years old and all his teeth. Philippe Gilbert (Lotto-Soudal) celebrates his birthday today. The Belgian celebrates his 40th birthday, he who is this year the dean of the Tour. “ It’s a real honor to be able to celebrate my birthday in the biggest cycling race in the world “said the Lotto-Soudal runner on social networks.
statement of the day
Anthony Perez (Cofidis), the most combative runner of the day:
« I was nominated this morning and I was happy to be in the lead with Magnus (Cort Nielsen). I still thought that we were going to be more riders in front but hey… I think that as soon as Magnus Cort Nielsen attacked, the teams understood that it was over for the polka dot jersey. For my part, I wanted to be in front. The team cleared me, so I’m happy. The crowd was amazing today.»
picture of the day
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin) who thinks he has won when he crosses the finish line in Calais. The Belgian finally arrived a few seconds after his compatriot Wout Van Aert, winner of this 4th stage alone. Philipsen therefore takes 2nd place in the stage in Calais and should be very disappointed tonight…
The classification of the 4th stage
1 – VAN AERT Wout (Jumbo-Visma) 171.5 km in 4:01:36 (42.6 mph)
2 – PHILIPSEN Jasper (Alpecin-Deceuninck) + 0:08
3 – Christophe LAPORTE (Jumbo-Visma) m.t
4 – KRISTOFF Alexander (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert) mt
5 – SAGAN Peter (TotalEnergies) m.t
6 – MOZZATO Luca (B&B Hotels – KTM) m.t
7 – VAN POPPEL Danny (BORA – hansgrohe) mt
8 – HOFSTETTE Hugo (Team Arkéa Samsic) mt
9 – MATTHEWS Michael (Team BikeExchange – Jayco) m.t
10 – THOMAS Benjamin (cofidis) mt
The general classification after the fourth stage
1. Wout Van Aert (BEL / Jumbo-Visma) and 13h02’43”
2. Yves Lampaert (BEL / Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) à 25”
3. Tadej Pogacar (SLO / UAE Team Emirates) at 32”
Mads Pedersen (DAN / Trek-Segrafredo) at 36 ”
5. Mathieu Van der Poel (PB / Alpecin) at 38”
6. Jonas Vingegaard (DAN / Jumbo) at 40”
7. Primoz Roglic (SLO / Jumbo) at 41 ”
8. Adam Yates (GB / Ineos) at 48”
9. Stefan Kung (SUI / Groupama – FDJ) mt
10. Tom Pidcock (GB / Ineos) at 49”