In the second final at full speed, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won again and won the fourth stage of the 2023 Tour de France, held this Tuesday between the French towns of Dax and Nogaro, on a route of 181.8 kilometers.
Once again, the Belgian rider was the fastest in the pack ahead of the Australian Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny) and the German Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), second and third respectively; while the British Adam Yates (UAE Tem Emirates) maintained the lead.
In the final stretch Alexander Kristoff launched at the same time as Mark Cavendish. However, neither counted on the appearance, from the depths of the group, of a prodigious Mathieu van der Poel with Jasper Philpsen following in his wake.
Barely 30 or 40 meters, with an acceleration worthy of Formula 1, he left victory on a plate for the Alpecin-Deceuninck cyclist, who crossed the line in first place with solvency, despite the great sprint of a Caleb Ewan who lacked a few dozen more than meters to get back.
On the Latino side, all arrived in the main group with the same time as the winner, with the best placed being Esteban Chaves, (EF Education EasyPost) in 82nd place; soon came Harold Tejada, (Astana Qazaqstan Team) in 83rd place; Egan Bernal from Zipaquire (Ineos Grenadiers) finished in 99. While Daniel Felipe Martínez (Ineos Grenadiers) finished 150 and Rigoberto Urán (EF Education EasyPost) reached 161.
The breakaway of the day was encouraged by the French: Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën Team) and Anthony Delaplace (Team Arkéa Samsic), but at the close the two adventurers were wrapped up by the peloton. In the only hilly obstacle of the day on the Côte de Dému (2.1km at 3.2%), Frenchman Anthony Delaplace (Team Arkéa Samsic) took the disputed point.
In a very rough closure, inside the Nogaro racetrack there were three falls. In the first, the Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal – Quick Step) and the Italian Jacopo Guarnieri (Lotto Dstny) were affected. In the second, the Spanish Luis León Sánchez (Astana Qazaqstan Team) and the Slovenian Matej Mohorič (Bahrain – Victorious) crashed and the third incident involved the Norwegian Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and the French Axel Zingle (Cofidis).
The Tour de France will continue this Wednesday with the fifth stage, an undulating day of 162.7 kilometers starting in Pau and finishing in Laruns, which includes three mountain prizes: Col de Soudet (15.2 km at 7%), Col d’ Ichère (4.2 km at 6.2%) and Col de Marie Blanque (7.8 km at 8.5%).
Classification Stage 4
1.- Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4h25’28”
2.- Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) m.t.
3.- Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorius) m.t.
4.- Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) m.t.
5.-Mark Cavendish (Astana) m.t.
General ranking
1.- Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) 18h18’01”
2.- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +06”
3.- Simon Yates (Jayco AlUla) m.t.
4.- Victor Lafay (Cofidis) +12”
5.- Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +16”