Tour de France stage 4 – Live coverage – Cyclingnews.com
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2020-09-01T15:19:09.289Z
9km to go
UAE Team Emirates, Arkéa-Samsic and Jumbo-Visma are all positioned at the front. Alaphlippe has Jungels for company.
2020-09-01T15:18:07.373Z
Pacher and Vuillermoz are brought back. Neilands is the last man standing but he won’t last much longer either.
2020-09-01T15:17:01.142Z
10km to go
Neilands passes under the 10km banner. He’s just 40 seconds up on the peloton now.
2020-09-01T15:14:21.581Z
Kasper Asgreen and Bob Jungels remain at the front for Alaphlippe. Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers lie behind the Belgian team.
2020-09-01T15:11:55.007Z
14km to go
20 seconds between Neilands and the Pacher-Vuillermoz group. 1:15 back to the peloton.
2020-09-01T15:09:27.850Z
Here’s a look at the final climb today.
2020-09-01T15:08:19.922Z
Neilands took the two points and Pacher took one. A descent now to the base of Orcières-Merlette.
2020-09-01T15:06:30.018Z
Neilands heads off in search of two KOM points and the combativity prize. He has a gap on Pacher and Vuillermoz.
2020-09-01T15:03:33.687Z
Four Deceuninck-QuickStep riders left at the front of the peloton now, including Alaphilippe. Jumbo-Visma and Arkéa-Samsic are just behind them.
2020-09-01T15:02:42.200Z
And now Burgaudeau drops. Just Pacher, Neilands and Vuillermoz left.
2020-09-01T15:02:07.648Z
21km to go
Nils Politt drops back from the break on the climb. Four left now.
2020-09-01T14:59:46.715Z
The Belgian is back with the peloton now. The breakaway hits the penultimate climb.
2020-09-01T14:59:09.022Z
Here’s a look at Benoot’s Cervelo after that crash.
2020-09-01T14:57:00.963Z
25km to go
1:45 between break and peloton now, with Benoot riding between them.
2020-09-01T14:55:41.019Z
Tiesj Benoot crashes out of the break, going over the armco barrier into the grass. He’s OK but his seat post and top tube got sliced clean in two.
2020-09-01T14:54:03.325Z
The break hit a descent on the run-in to the penultimate climb of Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes. That’s 2.8km long at an average of 6.8 per cent.
2020-09-01T14:52:03.875Z
Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) gets a wheel change from Mavic neutral service.
2020-09-01T14:50:26.446Z
🤩 Orcières-Merlette, the scene of a legendary stage won by Luis Ocaña.🎬 Relive it with the original commentary🤩 Orcières-Merlette, c’est le souvenir d’une victoire de légende de 🇪🇸 Luis Ocaña. 🎬 Retour en vidéo avec les commentaires de l’époque.#TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/J6uwWGnD5DSeptember 1, 2020
2020-09-01T14:48:02.350Z
Some sprinters are dropping away from the rear of the peloton. Nizzolo, Kristoff, Coquard, Greipel all at the back.
2020-09-01T14:46:08.034Z
BIG DRAMA ON THE CLIMB!
Greg Van Avermaet has a mechanical issue before sprinting back to the peloton.
2020-09-01T14:43:49.053Z
33km to go
The Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes is 13km away. Then it’ll be a short downhill before we finally reach the final climb of the day. We should see some sort of action there…
2020-09-01T14:40:37.321Z
Yep, Pacher heads to the front for the final 500 metres. That’s another two points for the Frenchman.
Five points for him now as he goes joint-fifth in the mountain classification.
2020-09-01T14:38:06.569Z
Who will take the points? Pacher once again, I imagine…
2020-09-01T14:37:36.717Z
A 41kph average pace after three hours of racing. The break are in the final kilometre of the climb.
2020-09-01T14:34:07.561Z
37km to go
A number of teams are at the front of the peloton, spread across the road. Jumbo-Visma, Deceuninck-QuickStep, Cofidis, Trek-Segafredo, AG2R La Mondiale.
2020-09-01T14:32:23.203Z
The break hit the Côte de l’Aullagnier now. It’s 3km at 6.4 per cent with two and one point on offer at the top.
2020-09-01T14:28:21.270Z
Tour de France: Alaphilippe equals Thévenet in list of French yellow-jersey wearers
Current race leader has held jersey for 16 days in his career, matching 1975 and 1977 Tour champion Bernard Thévenet – and is just one day away from Darrigade and Pingeon
2020-09-01T14:23:26.688Z
The breakaway now has 10km to go til the next climb of the day. The gap is 2:30.
2020-09-01T14:19:02.494Z
Imola and La Planche des Belles Filles emerge as favourites to host 2020 World Championships
Italy and France in battle to host elite men’s and women’s races
2020-09-01T14:15:41.530Z
50km to go
Still no change in situation at the moment. It’s an uphill drag to the next classified climb.
Roll on the finale…
2020-09-01T14:10:23.581Z
The move didn’t last long at all. The break is all back together now.
2020-09-01T14:09:39.905Z
Politt drops back to help his teammate Neilands, however.
2020-09-01T14:09:04.186Z
55km to go
Pacher, Vuillermoz and Politt have taken over the lead of the race after a split in the breakaway. 2:40 back to the peloton.
2020-09-01T14:04:08.242Z
60km to go
25km to go until the next climb of the day, the third-category Côte de l’Aullagnier.
2020-09-01T13:59:02.995Z
Pacher leads the break over the top of the climb. Another point for him, so three in total now.
2020-09-01T13:57:07.608Z
Here’s a look at today’s six-man break:
2020-09-01T13:55:44.451Z
The break close in on the top of our second climb of the day. Only one point on offer up there.
2020-09-01T13:53:09.228Z
Now Vuillermoz has slipped off the front of the break.
A rather large group has split from the rear of the peloton on the descent. Shouldn’t be any worries to make it back fairly quickly though.
Politt is back with the break now. 7km to go until the next KOM – the Côte de Corps: 2.2km, 6.3 per cent.
2020-09-01T13:45:52.299Z
Tour de France bikes: Julian Alaphilippe’s Tarmac SL7
Clincher tyres, inner tubes, mountain bike rotors and a splash of yellow for the Frenchman in the maillot jaune
2020-09-01T13:43:23.944Z
73km to go
Politt is still out there, just 10 seconds up the road. His teammate Krists Neilands is hanging in at the back of the break, not doing any work obviously.
2020-09-01T13:35:57.914Z
The full Deceuninck-QuickStep team has taken to thhe front of the peloton now, in addition to Declercq and Cavagna, who have been there all day.
2020-09-01T13:32:32.356Z
82km to go
12 seconds between Politt and the break, 3:20 back to the peloton.
2020-09-01T13:27:43.490Z
Politt is really going for it here. He has a handful of seconds on the rest of the break in the downhill.
2020-09-01T13:24:03.172Z
The fourth-category Côte de Corps comes in around 25 kilometres.
2020-09-01T13:22:36.206Z
89km to go
A short downhill before another kick up and a longer descent before the next climb. Politt has gone off the front of the break.
2020-09-01T13:18:52.216Z
Pacher takes the two points at the top. Politt led the rest of the break over.
The peloton will cross the top of the climb in 2:50.
2020-09-01T13:17:27.157Z
The Frenchman has a decent gap on his breakmates and looks like leading the way over the top.
2020-09-01T13:16:34.736Z
700 metres from the top and Pacher goes on the attack from the break.
2020-09-01T13:10:40.890Z
96km to go
The break are 3km from the top of the climb now. Only two and one point available up there, by the way.
2020-09-01T13:08:13.772Z
The two Israel Start-Up Nation riders lead the way in the break.
2020-09-01T13:06:14.291Z
This six-man break is hardly made up of star climbers, but so far they’re all sticking together on this Cat 3 climb. Three minutes back to the peloton.
2020-09-01T13:01:55.386Z
The Deceuninck-QuickStep duo and Jumbo-Visma remain planted on the front of the peloton.
2020-09-01T12:58:13.724Z
100km to go
The breakaway passes the 100km to go mark shortly after starting the third-category climb.
2020-09-01T12:56:57.166Z
The break are about to start the Col du Festre (7.6km, 5.3 per cent) now, the first climb of the day.
2020-09-01T12:55:14.556Z
A quick video highlight of that intermediate sprint from the peloton:
💚 A well-fought Intermediate Sprint in the peloton saw 🇮🇪 @Sammmy_Be prevail!💚 Un sprint intermédiaire très disputé dans le peloton ! C’est 🇮🇪 Sam Bennett qui passe en tête !#TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/eafqmhUhi4September 1, 2020
2020-09-01T12:52:39.080Z
103km to go
Bennet hit 70kph in that intermediate sprint after jumping from Michael Mørkøv’s wheel. It was a fast one.
2020-09-01T12:50:15.831Z
Looks like Bennett will take green off Sagan then. He was five points behind the Slovakian but made up those points there.
2020-09-01T12:48:34.531Z
Nizzolo, Coquard and Trentin also grabbed some points. A number of riders – Ewan, Greipel, Bol – were nowhere.
2020-09-01T12:46:51.852Z
Bennett takes the nine points for seventh place. Sagan was only the sixth man over the line in the peloton after a wild effort ended with him being boxed in. Four points for him, then.
2020-09-01T12:45:33.203Z
Total Direct Energie lead the way to the sprint. Sagan sits on Bennett’s wheel.
2020-09-01T12:44:43.648Z
Sam Bennett and Peter Sagan are up towards the front of the peloton in anticipation of the sprint.
2020-09-01T12:43:49.274Z
Politt led the break over the sprint ahead of Burgaudeau and Benoot.
Nine points down to one point on offer for the peloton.
2020-09-01T12:40:51.955Z
☀️☀️☀️💛 #TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/XzUDPZGqxYSeptember 1, 2020
2020-09-01T12:40:18.423Z
111km to go
2km to go until the sprint now. 3:10 between break and peloton. No real change in the situation.
2020-09-01T12:31:07.512Z
Tour de France’s first summit finish: a power climb – Preview
While Orcières-Merlette has the honour of being the 2020 Tour de France’s first summit finish for stage 4 on Tuesday, in one sense it wouldn’t matter much if it were missed off the route for another two or three decades. And that’s because whatever happens today, when it comes to the sheer scale of the events there back in 1971, it’s very, very unlikely to match them.
2020-09-01T12:25:43.909Z
121km to go
3:25 between break and peloton. There’s 11km to go until the intermediate sprint, so we should see Sagan and co jump away from the peloton there.
2020-09-01T12:18:12.450Z
No wonder-drugs in Remco Evenepoel’s pocket, says Boonen
Retired Belgian comes to youngster’s defence and reveals ‘concrete plans’ had been made for comeback
2020-09-01T12:14:36.732Z
Riders are peeling off from the peloton for nature breaks. No worries in the main group.
2020-09-01T12:12:23.362Z
The wind isn’t too strong though, so there’s no danger of big splits in the peloton heree.
2020-09-01T12:11:21.499Z
The wind is blowing on these flat roads and the peloton is all strung out in single file under the high pace up front.
2020-09-01T12:09:14.646Z
Some analysis of yesterday’s stage courtesy of our colleagues at Procycling magazine:
Tour de France stage 3 analysis: Ewan proves 2019 was no fluke
2020-09-01T12:05:34.333Z
134km to go
There’s not a ton going on right now. The intermediate sprint comes with 109km to go.
2020-09-01T12:01:18.716Z
UAE Team Emirates are next in line behind Deceuninck-QuickStep and Jumbo-Visma.
2020-09-01T11:58:41.202Z
Julian Alaphilippe at the start today:
“It’s a nice stage today and another day for me to enjoy wearing the yellow jersey. The finale won’t be a walk in the park but I’ll give everything to retain the yellow jersey.
“Some favourites for the GC would be happy if I’d stay in the lead for longer but others like Adam Yates who is only four seconds down would love to take over from me. Anyway, the end of the Tour is still a long way away…”
2020-09-01T11:57:47.552Z
Vuillermoz, who lay 3:53 down on Alaphilippe this morning, is now the virtual leader of the race. The break are 4:10 up the road at the moment.
2020-09-01T11:55:48.867Z
Tim Declercq and Remi Cavagna are the men on the front for Deceuninck-QuickStep. Jumbo-Visma lurk right behind the duo.
2020-09-01T11:52:50.614Z
144km to go
3:50 for the break. It’s a sunny day in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.
2020-09-01T11:45:51.236Z
Deceuninck-QuickStep are up front with two men leading the peloton. Their team leader Julian Alaphilippe wears yellow today.
2020-09-01T11:44:28.880Z
A good job by Israel Start-Up Nation to get two men in the break here, at their first Tour de France. Hard to imagine this group has a chance to stay away until the end, though…
2020-09-01T11:42:51.696Z
3:30 for the breakaway now. Those are certainly our six for today.
2020-09-01T11:36:23.366Z
156km to go
The six-man group is already a minute up the road. Not much of a battle for the break, then…
2020-09-01T11:34:33.126Z
Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R La Mondiale), Quentin Pacher (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) are there too, while Mathieu Burgaudeau (Total Direct Energie) also made it across.
2020-09-01T11:33:09.701Z
Five riders have jumped away immediately. Krists Neilands and Nils Politt (Israel Start-Up Nation) are up there, as is Tiesj Benoot (Team Sunweb).
2020-09-01T11:32:05.124Z
160km to go
And here we go. Christian Prudhomme drops the flag and the director’s car is away.
2020-09-01T11:27:23.402Z
There’s a 2.5km ride through the town of Sisteron before the flag drops and racing gets underway.
2020-09-01T11:24:26.214Z
We’re about to get underway in just a few minutes now.
2020-09-01T11:16:29.791Z
A bit of a downbeat look at the day from one of them, Arkéa-Samsic’s Nairo Quintana…
🎙 🇨🇴 @NairoQuinCo Too modest?”C’est la première bagarre aujourd’hui pour les favoris. Mais je ne pense pas être avec eux dans la montée finale.”#TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/5bC0ySocj3September 1, 2020
2020-09-01T11:13:51.207Z
Today will be the first big chance for the GC favourites to make their mark. Early summit finishes are usually quieter affairs than anticipated, with a large group of GC men crossing the line together. Will things be different today?
2020-09-01T11:08:23.686Z
Today we’ll have five climbs on the menu, culminating in the first category summit finish.
Col du Festre: 7.6km, 5.3 per cent
Côte de Corps: 2.2km, 6.3 per cent
Côte de l’Aullagnier: 3km, 6.4 per cent
Côte de Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes: 2.8km, 6.8 per cent
Orcières-Merlette: 7.1km, 6.7 per cent
2020-09-01T11:02:06.824Z
If you missed yesterday’s action then we have a comprehensive stage report here as well as a look at the stage 3 highlights.
2020-09-01T10:56:37.957Z
Lotto Soudal sprinter Caleb Ewan won yesterday’s stage into Sisteron with a dazzling sprint finish. He’s still pretty pleased about it, but today is far from a day for him.
How I feel after yesterday😁 Thanks to everyone for the messages! Especially back in Australia!Another mountain day today⛰⛰ pic.twitter.com/vMPHAeVOkeSeptember 1, 2020
2020-09-01T10:53:05.946Z
We’re around 35 minutes away from the start of the stage in Sisteron. The start festivities are underway, while the start proper will be called at 13:30 local time, five minutes after the roll out from the town.
2020-09-01T10:49:55.214Z
Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France, the first summit finish of the race to Orcières-Merlette.