Arnaud Démare (FDJ) was victorious on the chaotic final of Stage 4 this afternoon in Vittel, France, finishing ahead of Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin).
The final two kilometers were met with heavy carnage, in contrast with a fairly benign stage prior with Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Wanty Groupe-Gobert) solo for the entirety of the day. Sagan was later disqualified for causing a crash that sent Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), and Ben Swift (UAE Team Emirates) to the tarmac.
After picking up 20 points for winning the intermediate sprint (Démare and Sagan took second and third back in the field), and a KOM classification point, van Keirsbulck was reeled in with 17 kilometers remaining in the race and the day was one for the sprinters.
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- Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) resplendent in the maillot jaune.
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- When blue really is your color: Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang was all smiles at the start of Stage 4 in Mondorf-les-Bains
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- Critical race information for reference atop the stem of an Orica-Scott team bike.
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- Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) appeared in good spirits at the start in Mondorf-les-Bains, which would be, unbeknownst to him, his final stage of the 2017 Tour.
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- Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) signed autographs for fans in Mondorf-les-Bains.
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- Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome were sitting first and second in the general classification at the start of Stage 4.
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- A premium view of the action for these race spectators.
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- Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) pictured with his only companion of the day — the TV moto.
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- Sky helped control the gap between van Keirsbulck and the field. The Belgian’s margin rose to over 13 minutes at one point in the race.
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- Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty–Groupe Gobert), spent the day alone on Stage 4 of the 2017 Tour de France.
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- The peloton passed through French wheat fields.
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- “I thought others would follow.” It was a bridge too far as Guillaume van Keirsbulck failed to recruit companions for his all-day breakaway.
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- The exact moment that lead to the controversy on Stage 4, ultimately concluding with world champion Peter Sagan’s (Bora-Hansgrohe) disqualification from the race.
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- Arnaud Démare punched his ticket in a sprint finish marred by controversy.
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- Arnaud Démare took his first Tour de France victory edging out Peter Sagan and Alexander Kristoff in Vittel.
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- Cavendish made his way to the team bus with a fractured shoulder blade held gingerly.
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- Marcel Kittel (Quick Step Floors) missed out on today’s finale — which may not have been such a bad thing, as he was was behind the chaos.
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- John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) vaulted over Mark Cavendish as he crashed directly in front of the German puncheur.
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- French champion Arnaud Démare escaped from the Stage 4 finale unscathed with his first Tour stage win.
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- Italian leadout man Jacopo Guarnieri wasn’t so lucky.
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- Sagan stopped at the Dimension Data bus to see how Cavendish was doing after the crash. “I was massively grateful that Peter came directly after the finish to see me. I have a good relationship with Peter. Even with the movement to the right…obviously I wouldn’t be happy, but that’s racing. But I was a little bit confused with the elbow. That is something I would like to speak to him about. But in terms of the disqualification, that’s the jury’s decision. I would just like to speak to Peter personally, but I am happy that he came to and saw me after the finish.”
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- Trek-Segafredo team mechanics’ jobs don’t conclude upon the finish of the stage.