As it happened: A milestone win for the world champion in a ferocious uphill sprint on Tour de France stage 4

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2025-07-08T16:13:28.894Z

Need to catch up on the stage? Here’s our race report:

Tour de France stage 4: Tadej Pogačar outduels Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard on hotly-contested sprint finish in Rouen

2025-07-08T16:10:59.173Z

Kévin Vauquelin keeps white.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T16:09:03.429Z

Pogačar is back into polka dots.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T16:04:31.379Z

Van der Poel says his legs were really hurting in the finale, and he was happy just to be there. He really was in a group of pretty elite climbers.

2025-07-08T16:02:25.151Z

Milan keeps green.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T16:00:57.303Z

Another day in yellow for Mathieu van der Poel. He’ll fight hard to keep it tomorrow, as he did in 2021.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T15:58:52.744Z

Love a slo-mo.

💯 WINS #TDF2025 l @TamauPogi pic.twitter.com/kBxd3cnkJrJuly 8, 2025

2025-07-08T15:58:23.219Z

These two actually do really like racing against each other.

Tadej: “You tried, huh ?” Mathieu: “I always try, but it’s impossible against you” Tadej : « Tu as essayé, hein ? » Mathieu : « J’essaie toujours, mais c’est impossible contre toi ».These two 💛🌈#TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/jb5dcLH3S9July 8, 2025

2025-07-08T15:55:48.143Z

Back on the podium. Just three stages between Pogačar’s last TDF stage win (stage 21 last year) and this one.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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Here’s Pogačar and Vingegaard on the attack – just look at that gradient. Ouch.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T15:50:21.801Z

Remco Evenepoel managed to lose three seconds on the line as gapped opened in the sprint. But he can likely make that back in the TT.

2025-07-08T15:48:56.868Z

Well, no yellow, but Pogačar goes back into the polka-dot jersey, which he deliberately got rid of yesterday. At least he got his rainbow win, but he might not love wearing the race skinsuit in the TT tomorrow.

2025-07-08T15:46:53.242Z

To win at the Tour is incredible, in this jersey even more, and to have 100 victories is amazing. With so many good riders in the final, you’re always a bit on the edge and nervous about what’s going to happen. You never until the final, like today. You get this adrenaline. It’s pure racing and I enjoy it.

Tadej Pogačar after winning stage 4

2025-07-08T15:45:52.172Z

João Almeida was key in Pogačar’s victory. He just said on TV last the last kilometre felt like three.

2025-07-08T15:43:05.764Z

There are a couple of losers on GC, but Ben O’Connor is the main one. He lost 1:49.

2025-07-08T15:41:56.083Z

The new GC has Van der Poel and Pogačar equal on time, with Vingegaard at eight seconds.

2025-07-08T15:39:03.914Z
Correction

Van der Poel actually keep the yellow jersey on countback, so no yellow for Pogačar.

But they are on the same time now.

2025-07-08T15:33:09.157Z

The winning moment!

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T15:31:19.736Z
Results

Here’s the full results.

Results powered by FirstCycling

2025-07-08T15:29:49.031Z

Massively impressive sprint from Vingegaard. He was only a wheel behind Van der Poel, whilst the rest of the group were bike lengths back.

2025-07-08T15:29:10.419Z

That’s win number 100 for Pogačar, in rainbows. A bit of a perfect day.

And UAE were right to give polka-dots to Wellens yesterday – Pogačar wanted to take his first Tour win in rainbows.

2025-07-08T15:28:19.528Z

Correction: Pogačar will not take the yellow jersey from Van der Poel.

2025-07-08T15:28:01.154Z

Van der Poel took second, with Vingegaard in third.

2025-07-08T15:27:45.412Z

The world champion powered past Van der Poel in the final few metres.

2025-07-08T15:27:25.653Z
Pogačar wins

But Tadej Pogačar takes the win!!!

2025-07-08T15:27:04.086Z

Van der Poel launches.

2025-07-08T15:26:49.490Z

Almeida leading out ahead of Van der Poel and Pogačar.

2025-07-08T15:26:34.603Z

Jorgenson caught and we’re sprinting to the line.

2025-07-08T15:26:20.704Z

Almeida is trying to close the gap to Jorgenson, as Van der Poel moves up.

2025-07-08T15:26:01.093Z

Jorgenson is trying to take a flyer…

2025-07-08T15:25:52.663Z

Last kilometre!

2025-07-08T15:25:22.254Z

Remco Evenepoel attacks but not really going anywhere. Pace is intense.

2025-07-08T15:25:06.739Z

Kévin Vaquelin and two other riders are about to catch onto the leaders – he’s with Skjelmose and Romain Grégoire.

2025-07-08T15:24:21.018Z

Almeida and Jorgenson are on the front now, helping their leaders.

Chase group features a lot of VIsma and UAE teammates, as well as Primož Roglič and Mattias Skjelmose,. They’re 21 seconds back.

2025-07-08T15:23:02.638Z

Jorgenson attacks! Pogačar closes it.

2025-07-08T15:22:50.469Z

Seven riders back together at the front now, with 4km to go.

2025-07-08T15:22:32.833Z

Vingegaard comes through to take a turn, but the chasers are just a few metres behind.

2025-07-08T15:22:03.070Z

Vingegaard isn’t working with Pogačar.

The group behind is Evenepoel, Onley, Van der Poel, Jorgenson and Almeida.

2025-07-08T15:21:34.581Z
KOM: Rampe Saint-Hilaire (cat 4)

Pogačar takes the point just ahead of Vingegaard. They’re together now, 11 seconds ahead of the Van der Poel group.

2025-07-08T15:21:00.036Z

Pogačar drops Vingegaard, but the Dane is fighting back.

2025-07-08T15:20:46.279Z

These two are just on another level. It’s Evenepoel who is chasing behind, Van der Poel can’t match it.

2025-07-08T15:20:27.921Z

Vingegaard is on his wheel. Van der Poel is not quite going with them.

2025-07-08T15:20:13.130Z

And Pogačar goes!

2025-07-08T15:19:54.178Z

Almeida comes up now and Pogačar hops onto his wheel.

2025-07-08T15:19:24.170Z

Narváez is leading out Pogačar on the climb.

2025-07-08T15:19:10.025Z

Lipowitz is dropping at the back of the peloton.

Campenaerts finally swings off and Benoot takes over.

2025-07-08T15:18:38.736Z

Barguil is moving up the peloton with Oscar Onley on his wheel.

2025-07-08T15:18:14.737Z

Evenepoel, Vingegaard, Pogačar and Van der Poel are all in the first 10 riders.

2025-07-08T15:17:45.782Z
CLimb

Onto the Rampe Saint-Hilaire (0.8 km at 9.4%).

2025-07-08T15:17:17.362Z

Evenepoel has to close a gap to Pogačar at the foot of the next climb.

2025-07-08T15:16:44.531Z

Big effort from Campenaerts here. Vingegaard is on his wheel, Van Aert is at the back of the Visma train.

2025-07-08T15:15:19.714Z

Visma are pushing hard on the descent.

2025-07-08T15:14:33.147Z
10km to go

Tiesj Benoot comes to the front too. Visma are dominating right now.

2025-07-08T15:14:11.057Z

Just one 800m climb left, and then the kick up to the line.

2025-07-08T15:13:48.705Z

Four Visma riders now lead the bunch: Campenarts, Vingegaard, Jorgenson and Van Aert in that order.

2025-07-08T15:13:19.946Z

Visma are bringing Vingegaard forward and taking control with Campenaerts.

2025-07-08T15:12:57.208Z

Onto the descent. Van der Poel has just slid back a little.

2025-07-08T15:12:35.116Z
KOM: Côte de la Grand’Mare (cat 4)

Wellens takes another point.

2025-07-08T15:12:13.208Z

Vingegaard is on Pogačar’s wheel, with his Visma teammates a little further back.

2025-07-08T15:11:47.349Z

Ben O’Connor is dropped out the back of the bunch. Bad GC start for him so far after a crash on stage 1.

2025-07-08T15:11:23.930Z

Feels like an attack is coming… but when?

2025-07-08T15:10:30.748Z

Pogačar is second wheel, just behind Wellens, with 600m to go on this climb.

2025-07-08T15:10:07.120Z

Vingegaard and Roglič are right up front with UAE and Alpecin.

2025-07-08T15:09:49.547Z

Ben Healy struggling at the back. Not a day for him. Alaphilippe pops as well.

2025-07-08T15:09:34.102Z

Kaden Groves is putting in an amazing shift for Alpecin here. He’s not just a sprinter, that’s for sure.

2025-07-08T15:08:54.198Z
Climb

We’re onto the Côte de la Grand’Mare (1.8 km at 4.8%).

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UAE and Alpecin are fighting for control at the front of the bunch.

2025-07-08T15:06:04.886Z

This run-in is super technical. So many narrow parts and badly-placed road furniture.

2025-07-08T15:04:53.201Z

5km until the next climb.

2025-07-08T15:04:04.745Z

UAE are piling on the pace now, lining out the peloton.

2025-07-08T15:02:55.311Z
KOM: Côte de Bonsecours (Cat 4)

Tobias Halland Johannessen takes the one point in a fairly uncontested sprint.

2025-07-08T15:02:10.718Z

Benoot is moving up the bunch for Visma-Lease a Bike.

2025-07-08T15:01:50.493Z

Martinez is immediately sliding back, but he’s had a much better day than the last few today.

2025-07-08T15:01:29.732Z

Alpecin are leading things up this climb, with Van der Poel right up front, though Pogačar is glued to his wheel.

2025-07-08T15:01:05.412Z
Climb

Onto the 900m Côte de Bonsecours.

Alaphilippe has just joined the peloton again.

2025-07-08T15:00:33.719Z
20km to go

It’s all going to kick off on these climbs.

2025-07-08T15:00:11.754Z

And Martinez is caught by the Alpecin-led peloton.

2025-07-08T14:59:58.517Z

Potential stage contender Ben Healy is chasing back on.

2025-07-08T14:57:48.869Z

A bit of a descent is allowing riders to come back after that crash.

Martinez is still out front.

2025-07-08T14:57:30.423Z

Paret-Peintre looks like he may be out of the race as he sits by the side of the road in tears.

That would be a loss for Evenepoel.

2025-07-08T14:56:49.655Z

A lot of riders held up there too, when the peloton is at full speed.

2025-07-08T14:56:28.649Z

Harold Tejada, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Mick van Dijke all down.

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Crash

A mass of riders go down in a squeeze.

2025-07-08T14:55:47.227Z
25km to go

It’s a big old fight in the bunch.

2025-07-08T14:55:28.916Z

Pogačar is on the wheel of Wellens in the group, as Uno-X move to the front.

2025-07-08T14:55:06.568Z

Don’t look back Lenny!

The Bahrain Victorious car to Lenny Martinez

2025-07-08T14:53:43.300Z

Martinez is still holding onto 15 seconds, after a really strong climb.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG are controlling the bunch now, Alpecin-Deceuninck have been pushed out a bit.

2025-07-08T14:52:47.757Z

Alaphilippe is still struggling to make contact with the bunch.

2025-07-08T14:52:23.086Z
KOM: Côte de Belbeuf (cat 3)

Martinez claims maximum two points.

The remaining one goes to king of the mountains Tim Wellens to extend his lead in the classification.

2025-07-08T14:51:07.401Z

Martinez is really going all out.

2025-07-08T14:50:32.978Z

Martinez is pushing on alone on this climb, ahead of Abrahamsen, who is about to be caught.

2025-07-08T14:49:07.937Z

This is short but steep and narrow.

2025-07-08T14:48:52.419Z
Climb

They’ve just started the Côte de Belbeuf (1.3 km at 9.2%).

2025-07-08T14:48:15.795Z

Gachignard is caught.

2025-07-08T14:47:42.792Z

Alaphilippe and Dainese are fighting back through the convoy.

2025-07-08T14:47:25.074Z

Just 20 seconds for the break, the peloton have them in view.

2025-07-08T14:47:02.497Z
Intermediate sprint: Saint-Adrien

Abrahamsen takes the max points in the break, whilst Milan grabs fifth from the peloton, ahead of Girmay.

2025-07-08T14:45:23.326Z

Gap is down to 30 seconds.

2025-07-08T14:44:37.978Z

Alaphilippe is back riding, but already nearly a minute back. Bad moment to need a new wheel!

2025-07-08T14:43:43.371Z

Puncture for Alaphilippe – teammate Dainese is stopping with him.

2025-07-08T14:42:49.987Z

And the gap just dips below a minute, with 33km to go.

2025-07-08T14:41:26.328Z

Intermediate sprint coming up.

2025-07-08T14:41:06.922Z

The gap keeps going down a bit, and then stabilising. Obviously the peloton have kept them close all day but they can’t take the catch for granted now. Some teams are going to have to put a dig in to bring the leaders back.

2025-07-08T14:38:56.702Z

The peloton is quite strung out at the back, though riders are coming back on the flat.

2025-07-08T14:36:55.887Z

Asgreen is doing quite a lot of work in the break.

2025-07-08T14:33:25.787Z

About 13km to the next climb, so a bit of a lull, but a real key moment for positioning.

The leaders are a minute ahead.

2025-07-08T14:32:45.114Z

Pogačar and Vingegaard are both in the first 25 riders or so, next to each other a few rows from the front.

2025-07-08T14:31:49.987Z

Super tense in the bunch. They’re all fighting for position up front.

2025-07-08T14:30:34.332Z

The break are trying their best to stay away here, and they are strong.

2025-07-08T14:28:56.407Z

The peloton have just crested the top of the climb too.

2025-07-08T14:27:46.773Z
KOM: Côte Jacques Anquetil (cat 4)

Asgreen takes the single KoM point, ahead of Martinez.

2025-07-08T14:26:50.324Z

Felix Gall is having an issue in the peloton – he’s here for GC so not a good time to have a problem.

2025-07-08T14:25:48.232Z

Martinez slows a bit and Asgreen is back with him and Abrahamsen, Gachignard too.

2025-07-08T14:24:43.853Z

Lenny Martinez is on the attack on the climb.

Abrahamsen is following but Gachignard is dropping.

2025-07-08T14:24:18.017Z

Fast pace up this climb and riders are being dropped already.

The gap is 1:18 and shrinking.

2025-07-08T14:22:53.725Z

The soft landing probably helped some riders there.

The peloton has just started the climb.

2025-07-08T14:22:30.688Z
Crash

Oof more riders down. A handful have just gone off the road and into a hedge.

2025-07-08T14:21:43.222Z
Climb

The break have just hit the Côte Jacques Anquetil.

2025-07-08T14:19:25.767Z

A few riders are chasing back on after that crash.

The speed is really rising in the peloton with this first climb coming up.

2025-07-08T14:18:29.376Z

Matteo Vercher went down first and heaviest, but he’s back riding already.

2025-07-08T14:18:04.758Z
Crash

Crash! A handful of riders have gone down mid-bunch over some street furniture.

Sepp Kuss was one of them.

2025-07-08T14:15:18.852Z

8km to go to the first climb.

It’s the Côte Jacques Anquetil, named after the French cycling legend, who is from this area.

2025-07-08T14:12:07.442Z

The teams lining up in colour order is a thing of beauty.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T14:08:27.780Z
60km to go

It’s the calm before the storm a bit here.

2025-07-08T14:06:37.859Z

Here’s a quick reminder of the climbs we have coming up:

km 127 – Côte Jacques Anquetil (3.6 km at 3.4%)km 146.5 – Côte de Belbeuf (1.3 km at 9.2%)km 154.3 – Côte de Bonsecours (0.9 km at 7%)km 162.6 – Côte de la Grand’Mare (1.8 km at 4.8%)km 169.2 – Rampe Saint-Hilaire (0.8 km at 9.4%)

2025-07-08T14:02:08.865Z

Gap is already down to 1:20.

2025-07-08T14:01:18.346Z

It’s Alpecin, Cofidis and EF at the front of the bunch.

EF won’t be fully chasing, though, I expect.

2025-07-08T13:59:21.989Z

Not that I don’t have much to say about this stage, but just realised we have riders 33, 55 and 222 in this break. So that’s something.

2025-07-08T13:57:37.687Z

The gap is just starting to come down.

2025-07-08T13:55:26.337Z

Van Aert spoke to TNT before the race. He’s said he is hoping to be there in the finale, and to find some better legs – so he is after more on this stage than just looking after Vingegaard.

But he does think the GC contenders will be up there in the finish.

2025-07-08T13:49:13.555Z
75km to go

The peloton will be starting to think about reeling the break in now.

2025-07-08T13:44:06.582Z

Around 25km to go until we start the climbs.

2025-07-08T13:41:26.652Z

Today’s average speed is 45 kph.

We have a whole feature on why the Tour de France is getting faster, and why it won’t be slowing down soon.

2025-07-08T13:38:27.523Z

The break are working hard and riding well together, in a good through-and-off formation, but I’m not sure they have any chance of staying away, no matter how strong they are.

2025-07-08T13:36:42.913Z

This man was impressive on stage 2. Could he go for it again today?

Julian Alaphilippe of Tudor Pro Cycling (Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T13:31:56.982Z

EF Education-EasyPost have just moved up towards the front of the bunch.

Obviously they have Asgreen in the lead, but may also be thinking of someone like Healy or Powless for the final.

2025-07-08T13:29:41.059Z

Riders are grabbing musettes from the side of the road and having some food.

2025-07-08T13:29:11.706Z

Lunch time in the peloton!

2025-07-08T13:20:49.898Z
100km to go

Most of the action is packed into the final 50km.

2025-07-08T13:14:57.104Z

The peloton is pretty strung out. It’s definitely not easy work to keep this strong break within two minutes.

2025-07-08T13:14:04.702Z

We’re going over a bit of an uncategorised climb at the moment.

2025-07-08T13:11:26.652Z

Silvan Dillier is still on the front. Obviously.

2025-07-08T13:07:28.786Z

Lenny Martinez is putting in a little dig over a rise – well, a bridge that rises. But he doesn’t go anywhere.

2025-07-08T13:05:23.934Z

Mathieu van der Poel is just chasing back onto the bunch after being at the car.

2025-07-08T13:04:11.888Z

The peloton just went through the beautiful town of Gerberoy.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T13:00:06.298Z

But this is how Jeannière finished the stage yesterday, so you can see why he’s at the car.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T12:57:21.590Z

Émilien Jeannière is at the medical car. It’s annoying some of the other riders out the back of the bunch that he’s just being towed past them…

2025-07-08T12:55:18.253Z

It’s a glamorous life on Tour.

📸 A wild photographer appears!📸 Un photographe sauvage apparait !#TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/fpXVjvVd9fJuly 8, 2025

2025-07-08T12:53:49.027Z

Riders are stopping to wee again. It’s very chill today.

2025-07-08T12:49:34.748Z

It really is impressive what Silvan DIllier is doing here. Just controlling the break, on his own, for kilometres on end. No rotation needed for the Swiss man.

2025-07-08T12:49:03.187Z
120km to go

The four leaders, with little Lenny Martinez at the back.

The gap is 2:11.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T12:45:50.136Z

Here’s the polka-dot king.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T12:44:08.410Z

Quick stop for Tim Wellens, but he’s back riding now.

He’s in FULL polka dots today, even the helmet. He’s just completed the feat of wearing the mountains jersey in all three Grand Tours (so it maybe wasn’t all about getting Pogačar out of the jersey…)

‘Our only goal is yellow in Paris’ – Tim Wellens explains why he ‘captured’ Tour de France mountain classification lead from teammate Tadej Pogačar

2025-07-08T12:42:12.126Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck are all about Van der Poel today.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T12:39:39.570Z

A reminder that Jonas Abrahamsen, who is in the break, only broke his collarbone a few weeks ago. Mad recovery.

Nine-day recovery from collarbone break sees Jonas Abrahamsen back in Tour de France team ‘against all odds’

2025-07-08T12:37:18.344Z

Here’s a reminder of today’s profile:

(Image credit: ASO)

2025-07-08T12:35:05.245Z

Still a good 80km to go until the first climb today. It’s very much going to be a day of two halves; this calm and then a really fierce finale.

2025-07-08T12:30:57.220Z

Some food, drink nd a chat for Asgreen as he goes back to the car. It’s Tom Southam on DS duty for EF Education-EasyPost.

2025-07-08T12:29:57.385Z

Asgreen calls for the car.

2025-07-08T12:27:29.606Z

Today’s now-traditional start line selfie (ft. a rogue Matej Mohorič)

🤳💚💛⚪️🔴🤍🇪🇺#TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/03e5H125LeJuly 8, 2025

2025-07-08T12:24:42.800Z

Here you go, architecture fans. This is the colossal cathedral in Amiens, the Notre Dame d’Amiens. It’s as big as two Notre Dames de Paris.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T12:20:16.658Z

It’s Visma-Lease a Bike who are lined up behind Alpecin.

They’re looking after Vingegaard, of course, but I wonder if Wout van Aert could also be an option for the finale. He’s coming back from illness but the climbs would suit him.

2025-07-08T12:17:49.937Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck are really giving the leaders nothing today. The gap is not even two minutes right now.

2025-07-08T12:17:24.021Z

There’s 2,000m of climbing on this stage, with five climbs in the last 50km.

2025-07-08T12:15:13.349Z

A rider to watch today?

Kévin Vauquelin of Arkéa-B&B Hotels. He’s in the white jersey, and this is close to a home stage for him – who used to ride for a Rouen-based team – and he’s close enough to yellow that he could indeed take it if he won with a small gap.

2025-07-08T12:14:04.524Z

It’s about 18 degrees in France at the moment, but beautifully sunny.

2025-07-08T12:12:17.812Z

Tour de France or vintage Windows screensaver?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T12:07:22.665Z

Possibly not a lot is going to happen for the next 50km or so, as the break is set and everyone will be looking at the climb-packed finale.

Want something to read in the meantime? May I recommend this extract from Luke Rowe’s book Road Captain, where he recalls an anecdote where Chris Froome was beefing with Vincenzo Nibali at the 2015 Tour.

2025-07-08T12:03:53.704Z

The peloton is currently going at 53 kph. Oof!

2025-07-08T12:02:54.475Z

This is a really strong four-rider group. Alpecin are doing the right thing by keeping it close, because these are the kind of riders who could spring a surprise if you give them too much leeway.

2025-07-08T12:02:02.892Z

Asgreen joins the leaders.

2025-07-08T12:00:36.494Z

Asgreen is nearly there.

Alpecin are clearly keeping this one relatively close – the gap isn’t going much above two minutes.

2025-07-08T11:59:24.306Z

Bryan Coquard has stopped to have his seatstay adjusted, and take a natural break at the same time. Multitasking I guess.

2025-07-08T11:57:54.863Z

All the special jerseys at the start this morning.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T11:56:38.590Z

Asgreen is now 42 seconds behind the leaders, who are 2:09 ahead of the bunch.

2025-07-08T11:54:59.202Z

Dilier did about 200km on the front during Milan-San Remo earlier this year. Could be a similar day for him today – Alpecin obviously have the yellow to defend, but they also want to win the stage in Rouen with Van der Poel.

2025-07-08T11:53:37.725Z

Asgreen is still plugging away to make this junction.

2025-07-08T11:50:24.404Z

Asgreen is about halfway between the leaders and the bunch.

2025-07-08T11:50:01.505Z

And the riders are just pulling over for a natural break – when the yellow jersey goes, everyone goes.

2025-07-08T11:49:31.357Z

Alpecin-Deceuninck, led by Silvan Dillier, have just moved to the front and taken control which signals that the break is probably set, and they’re going to keep the gap under control.

2025-07-08T11:48:30.115Z

The peloton seems fairly happy with this situation. They’re not trying to shut down Asgreen. A four-rider break is a pretty good deal on a day like today.

2025-07-08T11:47:16.299Z

It’s Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost) who is on the attack after fighting up to the front of the peloton.

He has to bridge across a now 1:43 gap, but would be a very strong addition to the break.

2025-07-08T11:46:38.129Z

Yep, another attack goes.

Just as a few riders stop for a natural break, which is usually a sign that no more moves are going. Controversial.

2025-07-08T11:44:04.946Z
Breakaway formed

55. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) +14:24

184. Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) +4:11

222. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) +5:58

But not sure it’s done just yet…

2025-07-08T11:42:34.099Z

Gachignard makes the junction, and the gap is a minute.

2025-07-08T11:41:22.459Z
170km to go

Gachignard is about to join Abrahamsen and Martinez, so that will be three riders in the lead.

Peloton is spread across the road but not quite settled down yet.

2025-07-08T11:39:38.680Z

Here we go, a rider is trying to bridge. It’s Thomas Gachignard from TotalEnergies. He’s got a 30-second gap to close on his own.

2025-07-08T11:38:06.637Z

Just Martinez and Abrahamsen have gone for now, and the peloton has settled, but that doesn’t mean more riders aren’t going to try and bridge.

The gap is 20 seconds.

2025-07-08T11:37:01.058Z

As soon as the flag drops, the attacks start – Lenny Martinez is indeed the first to go, followed by Jonas Abrahamsen.

2025-07-08T11:36:29.528Z
Official start

The flag drops and away we go!

2025-07-08T11:35:48.921Z

We’re out of town now and the official start is minutes away.

2025-07-08T11:35:07.278Z

Photo of the day so far!

(Image credit: Getty Images)

He’ll be hoping to sting like a bee later on… (sorry)

2025-07-08T11:31:27.197Z

Ooh Lenny Martinez is also getting to the front.

We wrote all about him before the race: Project Lenny: Can Rod Ellingworth and Bahrain Victorious develop France’s next Tour de France winner?

2025-07-08T11:28:45.686Z

Victor Campenaerts is at the front now. He’s a good contender for the breakaway today.

2025-07-08T11:26:06.541Z

Still 10 minutes or so until the flag drops and the race is underway properly.

2025-07-08T11:25:09.220Z

Remco Evenepoel had a little crash yesterday, but is feeling fine this morning, he tells the TV.

Good, nothing crazy. It was a pretty slow crash, they crashed in front of me, I tried to brake but the bunch always takes a moment to avoid a crash, and I think I was on the wrong side on the right, so I touched the wheel of a guy in front of me and went down, so nothing crazy to worry about.

Remco Evenepoel to TNT Sports

2025-07-08T11:21:07.066Z

After yesterday’s lack of a break, viewers and commentators will be hoping there is a move today.

2025-07-08T11:18:53.176Z

A few Ineos riders are amassing at the front during the neutral here. That could be a sign that they want to be in the break, or they’re just staying out of trouble.

2025-07-08T11:15:56.579Z
Neutral start

And the riders are away for the neutral roll-out in Amiens!

2025-07-08T11:11:45.058Z

TNT Sports have just been speaking Alpecin-Deceuninck’s DS Christoph Roodhooft. He says Mathieu van der Poel reconned this stage finale two weeks ago.

2025-07-08T11:10:55.307Z

We also have a new green jersey today in Jonathan Milan.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T11:04:00.931Z

Tadej Pogačar is back in his world champion’s kit today, after sending Tim Wellens up the road yesterday to take the polka-dot jersey off him.

Dare we say that was because Pogačar wants to win in the rainbow bands today?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T11:02:14.542Z

15 minutes until the neutral start.

2025-07-08T10:54:42.295Z

The photographers are getting creative at the start.

10 points if you can guess which riders these are?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T10:47:27.492Z

Just under half an hour to go until the neutralised roll-out.

2025-07-08T10:46:06.113Z
TDF stat

This is a great stat: thanks to Tim Merlier’s win yesterday, Soudal-QuickStep have now won at least one stage in that last 13 Tours de France.

Remco Evenepoel will be certainly hoping to make it more than one in this Tour, though – maybe even tomorrow in the TT.

2025-07-08T10:43:10.439Z

And here’s the actual start line looking all Tour-ified.

🤩 Bonjour @AmiensMetropole #TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/mDsTkmj1PxJuly 8, 2025

2025-07-08T10:36:36.882Z

Here’s the view at the start and bus paddock this morning:

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T10:31:17.051Z

You can even watch the sign-on live, if you want:

🔴 Follow live from Amiens the presentation and the start of stage 4.🔴 Suivez en direct d’Amiens la présentation et le départ de la 4ème étape du #TDF2025. https://t.co/JKSljdo2dGJuly 8, 2025

2025-07-08T10:26:59.146Z

The last time the Tour was in Amiens, for a finish in 2018, Dylan Groenewegen won the stage.

Could this be a sign that he’ll have a good day today?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T10:20:44.905Z

Cockpit stickers are honestly my passion. Love this one.

It’s 🇧🇪 @WoutvanAert’s iconic alter ego 👨‍🎤 L’alter ego de @WoutvanAert est de retour 👨‍🎤#TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/iqUP7JOaswJuly 8, 2025

2025-07-08T10:18:49.193Z

It was a rollercoaster three days for Jasper Philipsen – from yellow to crashing out.

2025-07-08T10:09:27.967Z

If you’re waiting for the Tour to start, the Giro d’Italia Women is also on this week, so I’d recommend tuning into that – stage 3 is underway now, and they’re about to go over the highest point of the race.

Here’s what happened yesterday: Giro d’Italia Women: Anna Henderson claims maiden WorldTour victory on stage 2 and takes pink jersey on uphill finish to Aprica

2025-07-08T10:05:58.499Z

The riders have just started signing on in Amiens.

The neutralised start is set for 13.15 CEST, with the flag drop around 20 minutes later.

2025-07-08T10:02:37.837Z

Here’s a photo that sums up how chaotic yesterday was – Paul Penhoët walking to the finish after crashing on the final corner.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2025-07-08T10:00:31.724Z

Some good news from this morning: Stolen Cofidis bikes recovered with help from police and Tour de France organisers

2025-07-08T09:58:42.494Z

Here’s what’s on the cards today – 174.2km from Amiens to Rouen in northern France.

A jagged profile coming up (Image credit: ASO)

2025-07-08T09:54:26.283Z

Today is a much punchier day, with back-to-back short but steep climbs in the finale, and a little kick up to the line in Rouen to finish things off.

Historically, we’d call this a puncheur’s day, but these days, stages like this often draw out the GC riders too, who are also some of the best puncheurs (and time trialists, and climbers, and descenders…).

My colleague James is on the ground, here’s what people have been telling him about today:

‘I’m sure the big boys will come out to play’ – GC contenders expected to clash on punchy Tour de France stage 4 finish in Rouen

2025-07-08T09:43:43.368Z

I’m Matilda, Assistant Features Editor, and I’ll be taking you through what promises to be an exciting day in France, with a punchy finish on the cards.

2025-07-04T15:20:49.875Z

Welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France!