“I had a tough start to the season but the goal has always been the Tour de France”, Kittel said.
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Marcel Kittel edged out Bryan Coquard in a photo finish to win Stage 4 of the Tour de France on Tuesday.
There will no doubt be a breakaway through the early ascensions before the main climbs, and if the right people with the right climbing pedigree can open up a sizable gap before the peak of Pas de Peyrol at least, then they could be in with a huge chance to take the stage.
As for Quintana, he was happy not to lose time to Froome on the early flat stages, unlike past year when he gave up 1 minute 27 seconds in crosswinds on the second stage before eventually losing out on overall victory by just 1 minute 12 seconds.
McLay gave an indication of his sprinting ability – and cool head – with his incredible win at the GP Denain, maneuvering through the bunch to claim his first pro victory. I was never before as close to victory but I haven’t won yet.
Cavendish, looking for a 29th Tour career stage win, was boxed in when the sprint started and could only finish eighth, surrendering the lead to Sagan in the points classification.
At the Tour, he got off to a disappointing start, getting beaten by Cavendish in the opening stage and missing out on a chance to wear the yellow jersey.
“I feel very emotional right now, it feels like my first stage win again”, Kittel said.
Cavendish won two of the first three stages this year to wear yellow for the first time in his career and move level with Bernard Hinault, second all-time with 28 Tour stage wins, but there was frustration here as his route to the line was blocked.
Sagan said: “I’m very happy”.
“Today’s finish was good for me but I started sprinting too early”.
Richard and Lionel are joined by Dutch journalist Daan Hakkenberg of Algemeen Dagblad to discuss the stage and also the awesome sprint by Dutch champion Dylan Groenewegen, who came from so far back to finish fourth and was, arguably, the fastest over the final few hundred metres. “I think I belong with the best (sprinters) now”, said Coquard, a track world champion previous year in the madison.
“I am incredibly happy with this second win at the Tour de France”.
After a first attack fizzled out soon after the start, a group of four managed to escape from the pack and build up a five-minute lead over the peloton. The remaining trio was swallowed up during a short climb seven kilometers from the finish. Froome, a two-time Tour champion, is in fifth position overall, 18 seconds behind Sagan.
And while he doesn’t think an overall contender will win Wednesday’s 216km stage from Limoges to Le Lioren, he does believe that time gaps will appear between the top contenders.
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Valverde said he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to win a stage if the chance is there on Wednesday, but insisted that his main role is still to help Movistar leader Nairo Quintana – now two places behind Froome but in the same time – win the overall title.
