Calais

2022 - 7 - 5

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Eurosport.com"

Dunkirk - Calais live: Tour de France - Cycling - Eurosport (Eurosport.com)

Get the latest Cycling updates on Eurosport. Catch Dunkirk - Calais live on 05/07/2022. Find scores, stats and comments in real time.

Their lead is down to 2'30" now as the fight for the stage spoils ramps up ahead of the finale. He sits up and will now look forward to another visit to the podium tonight to pick up his polka dot jersey. With his KOM run unlikely to continue over the final climb, Cort seems happy to let Perez enjoy his moment in the spotlight. The wind is apparently not as bad as expected and so there many not be the anticipated splits. Initially the man in yellow went with several Jumbo teammates and three Ineos riders - but by the time he crested the summit of the Cote du Cap Blanc-Nez, Van Aert was on his own, with only teammate Jonas Vingegaard and Adam Yates of Ineos anywhere near him. They have Anthony Perez on a 35-second leash now as we approach the business end of this stage. Cort has already thrown in the towel after almost doubling his polka dot points tally but Perez, who rides for local team Cofidis, is still doing his best to defy the pack. But it's all in vain because Van Aert's lead is still 25 seconds and it looks like he's going to pick up a memorable stage win in yellow after his three consecutive second places. That's clearly Wout van Aert's plan here as he opens up a commanding lead following that explosive attack, the seeds of which was laid by Tiesj Benoot. Jasper Stuyven has been leading the chase for Trek but it's very disorganised because there aren't that many bodies in the chasing pack and Jumbo won't lend a hand. By going full, I put Jonas and the others in a good position because they didn’t have to ride. After those three second places he's finally gone one better after using his whole team to devastating affect on the final climb. The team was there, the situation was there – and the guy is just super strong.

Tour de France stage 4 LIVE: Result as Wout van Aert makes solo ... (The Independent)

The Jumbo Visma rider left all his rivals gasping for air on the final hill of the 171.5-km ride from Dunkirk after his Jumbo Visma team's brutal acceleration ...

Wout van Aert came home, 15 seconds ahead of the rest of the peloton. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. As Philipsen approached the finish he sprinted away from those around him and beat them to the line, perhaps a little easier than he might have imagined. Wout van Aert wins Stage 4 of the Tour de France! At the halfway point the cobbles begin. He said:

Van Aert solos to sensational victory in Calais (Morning Star Online)

WOUT VAN AERT, who humorously said he was tired of coming second, having secured that spot in each of the tour's opening three stages in Denmark, ...

With a regular donation to our monthly Fighting Fund, we can continue to thumb our noses at the fat cats and tell truth to power. The Morning Star is unique, as a lone socialist voice in a sea of corporate media. He did, however, pip Christophe Laporte, Alexander Kristoff and Peter Sagan.

Tour de France stage 4 - Live coverage (Cyclingnews.com)

All the action as the race hits France in Calais.

The gap has increased to over four minutes. Cort and Perez are going to become very well acquainted today, if no-one else decides to try and escape up the road. Many riders catch up and shoot the breeze, plenty of smiles and laughter, and a chance to rehydrate. The break continue to amass time over the pack. The gap drops below 3'30" as the second group try to make it back on. The gap drops down to just over a minute, and there is one last climb to contend with for those who would hope to sprint at the end of the day. Wout van Aert has dropped back to the team car several times in the stage. There is 25km to the next categorised climb, however, the landscape becomes a great deal bumpier from here on in, with plenty of uncategorised bumps along the way. Four more category four climbs remain, before a largely flat 10km run-in to the finish. The riders are heading north, back to the North Sea coast. With 15km to go, Anthony Perez continues to work alone at the front, and has 31" on the bunch. "We were in a perfect position thanks to Nathan and Stevie. Tiesj took over and in the wheel it was already super hard.

Wout van Aert wins Tour de France stage 4 in style, extends overall ... (Yahoo Sports)

Wout van Aert won the hilly fourth stage of the Tour de France and extended his overall lead after attacking strongly on the day's final climb on Tuesday.