Stage 4 of the Tour de France today took the competitors the 153.5 km from Cambrai to Reims, on a fairly flat route through the farmlands of Northern France. There were few crashes in a steady and predictable leg of the Tour, which lived up to its billing as one for the sprinters. The inevitable breakaway occurred early on, led by Champion (ALM), with four companions: De Greef (OLO), Isasi (EUS), Mayoz (FOT) and Vogondy (BTL) with no reaction from the following peloton. Sivtsov of HTC-Columbia led the pack with little or no support for a large part of the race.
Eventually the Cervelo team decided to get a grip of the situation with 30 km to go, and in short shrift, halved the breakaway groups time advantage to just 30 seconds. It was then a matter of each team trying to set their rider up for the sprint finish, but with none of them really appearing to want to lead the proceedings. HTC-Columbia took over from Cervelo at the front of the pack, as the desperate escapees battled to protect their slim lead. By the time the finishing post was less than 5 km away they eventually capitulated and were re-absorbed into the peloton. The teams organized themselves for the first real sprint of the Tour, after the pile ups of Stage 1; while the neutralization of Stage 2 removed the spectacle of a second place sprint; and the Stage 3 finish which was won by a sprinter, but had high profile absentees. Today’s sprint was the real deal, with all the big players in the mix.
(Photo of Mark Cavendish by Elyobelyob. Reproduced under Creative Commons licence.)
In the event, as they accelerated toward the line, Cavendish looked set up, led in by HTC-Columbia team mate Renshaw. Just as it seemed Cavendish was about to make his move, he misfired, at exactly the same time as Petacchi, the Stage 1 victor, catapulted himself into the fray, demonstrating what a top class sprinter he is – and why he has been nicknamed “Ale-Jet”. Pressed all the way by the American rider Dean, racing for Garmin-Transitions, he made it past the post first, proving that his Stage 1 win was no fluke. In a disappointing show Cavendish – expected to do great things this year – came home in 12th place.
The current standings after Stage 4 are unchanged in the General Classification:
1. Cancellara (SAX)
2. Thomas (SKY)
3. Evans (BMC)
4. Hesjedal (GRM)
5. Chavanel (QST)
6. Schleck (SAX)
7. Hushovd (CTT)
8. Vinokourov (AST)
9. Contador (AST)
10. Van Den Broeck (SIL)
1. Petacchi
2. Dean
3. Boasson
4. McEwen
5. Hunter
6. Turgot
7. Rojas
8. Oss
9. Hushovd
10. Freiere
So after today’s racing, the Tour cycling jerseys remain on the same shoulders for tomorrow. That is, Yellow Jersey stays with Cancellara; Green Jersey with Hushovd, who picked up points today; Polka Dot Jersey with Pineau; and White Jersey with second place man Thomas.
Tomorrow sees the Tour roll out from Épernay on route to Montargis, with another 187.5 km of grueling racing.
