ARNAUD DEMARE TOOK the honours on stage four of the Tour de France, which ended with a huge crash involving Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan during a thrilling sprint finish.
The flat 207.5-kilometre ride from Mondorf-les-Bains to Vittel proved, as predicted, favourable to the sprinters and the leading stage contenders bunched together in the closing stages.
And, during the jostling and bustling for position, Sagan’s elbow appeared to hit Cavendish, who collided heavily with the barriers and needed medical attention on the road with the Manxman clutching his shoulder.
FDJ rider Demare was one of the leaders that came out unscathed and a well-timed charge saw him cross the line ahead of Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin), while the Frenchman now holds the lead in the sprint classification.
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) remained in possession of the yellow jersey despite coming off the bike following a crash that preceded Cavendish’s tumble, coming away seemingly unhurt. His lead is now seven seconds over Sagan.
After yesterday’s third-place finish Dan Martin came home in the peloton, and he drops one place in the GC to 16th.
GOOD DAY / BAD DAY
It was obviously a great day for Demare, who looked well primed to win despite Cavendish’s late tumble, while Van Keirsbulck takes an honourable mention. It was nothing but disappointment for Cavendish, though, who had a bandaged hand as well as cuts from his crash.
STAGE RESULT
1. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) 4:53:54
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)
3. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin)
4. Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
5. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis, Solutions Credits)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) 14:54:25
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) +0:07
3. Chris Froome (Team Sky) +0:12
POINTS CLASSIFICATION
1. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) 124 points
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) 95 points
3. Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) 80 points
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
1. Nathan Brown (Cannondale-Drapac) 3 points
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) 2 points
3. Taylor Phinney (Cannondale-Drapac) 2 points
NEXT UP...
Stage five is a 160.5km trek from Vittel to La Planche des Belles Filles. The ride goes through the Vosges Mountains and finishes with a gruelling climb.
