- Philipsen Secures Back-to-Back Victories in Chaotic Finish
- Adam Yates Retains Yellow Jersey as Tour Enters Mountains
- Van Aert under Pressure as Focus Shifts to Mountain Stage
Tour de France stage four from Dax to Nogaro was won by Jasper Philipsen of Belgium, giving him back-to-back victories. In the final kilometers, a dreary afternoon of racing erupted into chaos. Mark Cavendish characterized the finish of the Paul Armagnac motor racing circuit as “carnage.” Several riders, including the Soudal Quickstep team’s sprinter Fabio Jakobsen, were ejected from the race.
Cavendish finished fifth after his sixth-place finish on Monday’s stage to Bayonne. He must delay his pursuit of a record-breaking 35th stage win until the Pyrenees. About the final kilometers, he remarked, “It was a true blending of riders.” “As I hopped from train to train, I was constantly analyzing who was there and who had other teammates.”
On Wednesday’s stage to Laruns, the UAE Emirates team’s Adam Yates kept the yellow jersey. Yates stated, “We have not wasted too much energy and are prepared to fight for every second.” “This is the Tour, so we expect all-out competition, especially with bonuses on the final climb and the gaps not being too large at the moment.”
Despite the wide road, crashes occurred in Nogaro, and Philipsen, cycling for the Alpecin-Deceuninck team, again benefited from an expert lead-out to win his fourth Tour victory of his career.
“I figured it would be a bit safer with wider roads,” he said, “but the curves were treacherous, especially when driving at full speed around the corners. Fortunately, the tires were adequate and I did not lose control. I heard some collisions around me, so I hope everyone is okay, but the final turns were a bit chaotic.”
On a stage with one recognized climb, the fourth-category Côte de Dému, less than 25 kilometers from the entry to the Nogaro circuit. It was inevitable that the sprint would be contested at high velocities. Cavendish recorded the fastest speed on Monday, an astounding 73.3km/h, but his teammates were unable to compete with the fluid, compact lead-out Philipsen was again granted.
With little hills and the peloton covering the first 100 km at 37 km/h, it was perfect for a leisurely lunch. Normandy residents Benoit Cosnefroy of AG2R Citron and Anthony Delaplace of ArkéaSamsic electrified the stage. With 86 kilometers remaining, the pair surged clear, but as the finishing circuit drew near, their advantage was quickly eroded.
Jonas Vingegaard’s team has denied rumors of a rift between the defending champion and comrade Wout van Aert, who has cut a frustrated figure in this year’s Tour de France. Merijn Zeeman, the director of sports for Jumbo-Visma, stated, “If you have a team with multiple goals, such as we do, then having a single leader is different.
“We are an extremely ambitious organization that also takes risks. Everyone agrees, but there is no assurance that it will always work out.”
Van Aert, who roared in displeasure after boarding the team bus on Sunday, had to win the opening mountain stage.
Van Aert will support Vingegaard on stage five’s three major hills. Tadej Pogacar, Yates’s teammate and Dane’s chief adversary, is widely anticipated to launch attacks. It is unlikely that the Slovenian will disappoint.
