The return Pass the Italian border this Tuesday, August 26, with a visit to the French Alps on the occasion of the 4th stage, and its arrival tried in Voiron (Isère). On the program: 206.7 kilometers on a demanding course but divided into two distinct parts: a First half marked by the Montgenèvre and Lautaret passes, before an end of the route without any difficulty and favorable to sprinters. At the end of a day ultimately little disputed, it was the latter who had the leisure to play the win … with the surprise victory of Legs (Grenadiers ineos)! Last minute guest on this Tour of Spainthe Briton won his first success at a large tour in this very winding final and slightly flat flat at the end of which he dominated the two Belgians of the two Belgians of the two BelgiansAlpecin-DECEUNINCK, Jasper Philipsen and his launcher Edward Planckaert. But the big information of the day for this arrival in France is that the red jersey passes on the shoulders of David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), the Breton having finished 17 places ahead Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) !
VIDEO – David Gaudu, as planned, took the red jersey on Tuesday
After Lenny Martinez and Rudy Molard … David Gaudu in red at Groupama-FDJ!
Equal in the general classification, the two men had only been decreed by the cumulation of places from the start, with an advantage of eight less places for the Danish. Attentive in the final without taking inconsiderate risks, Guisor crossed the line in 25th position, and the carrier of the red jersey only 42nd! A sufficient gap therefore to allow David Gaudu to put on his very first leader jersey over a large tour, imitating Lenny Martinez (2023), Rudy Molard (2018) et Bradley McGee (2005) and adding one more line in the beautiful love story of the Groupama-FDJ With this red jersey. A beautiful symbol for this unique day when the peloton of The return arrived in France, before finally joining the Spanish roads on Wednesday for a team time trial which should allow Awesome to recover your property.
Note the new disappointing performance of Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) Despite the big work of his training all day, the Danish only ending in 6th place in this final yet perfectly adapted to his qualities, proof of his relative mix. French Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) takes 13th place.
The summary of the race
Contrary to what we could have thought and hope in view of this favorable departure for adventurers and conducive to eliminate sprinters, it is not necessary to wait long before seeing the good breakaway forming, the battle to integrate the latter not being as intense as expected. We find at the front 5 runners, with Sean Quinn (EF Education-Easy Post), Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep), Kamiel Bonneu (Intermarché-Wanty), Mario Aparicio (Burgos-BH) et Joel Nicolau (Rural caja). The latter pockets 9 points at the top of the various passes and thus becomes the new leader in the mountain ranking, with a total of 11 units.
In the long descent that follows the lautaret pass, the gap between the peloton and the head quintet drops quickly under the impetus of the sprinters teams, Lidl-Trek, Alpecin-DECEUNINCK et Israel-Premier Tech. There is only 1'10 “100 km from the goal, and a general group is even 10 terminals further! Sinuhé Fernández (Burgos Burpellet BH) tries his luck in solo and sails some time in front of the peloton, before being resumed less than 50 km from the finish. The intermediate sprint of Noyarey is 32 km away, with the ranking by points … but also the bonuses. Logically, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) tries to mingle with the sprint for the red jersey, but the Frenchman fails in 5th place. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) goes without surprise.
In stride, Bruno Armirail (Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale) is the trunk and takes half a minute in advance. But the mission is impossible alone, and the French roller is finally swallowed 15 km. We therefore head towards a massive sprint with all the sprinters still present, in a final in slight false flat rising to Voiron. The sprinters trains then fought a beautiful battle in these last very technical and winding kilometers. After several dangerous shrinks and roundabouts but ultimately without falls, it is the formation Alpecin-DECEUNINCK who launches perfectly Jasper Philipsen In the final stretch … but the Belgian stuck, perhaps exhausted by the reliefs of the start of the stage, and must bow in front of the power and the freshness of Legs !
