Stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphine will be the last chance for the sprinters before the mountains take a hold of proceedings over the weekend. Join The Roar for live coverage from 11:55pm (AEST).
The 176-kilometre stage will see the riders go from Tain-L’Hermitage to Belley without any major climbs, however the hilly terrain at the finale could cause a few issues for the sprinters.
While the Criterium du Dauphine is not a known home for pure sprinters, tonight’s stage will be all about them and shouldn’t affect the GC standings in any major way.
With two category 4 climbs the only real challenges, a breakaway group could prove the difference and ultimately steal the stage victory.
The riders hit the finishing circuit 39 kilometres from home, and the final part of the stage are one lap of a 32-kilometre circuit that is rather lumpy but again, no major climbs come into play.
The final kilometre will have a big impact on the outcome of the stage, running uphill at 2.6 per cent it is a technically challenging finish. With 800 metres to go the peloton will move through a roundabout before they hit two bends and then onto the 200m finishing straight to the line.
Expect a breakaway group to go early tonight and establish a solid lead, before being roped in near the final circuit. With the sprint home being only 200 metres long and the road a narrow six metres wide, there could be a lot of push and shove towards the end.
Prediction
His name has been tossed around a lot over the last few stages, however tonight Alexander Kristoff will stand out and take the stage victory.
James McKern
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in Roarers, what a fun stage that was. Really looking forward to these mountains!!
James McKern
Roar Guru
So with the conclusion of Stage 4 and now the mountain stages set to take a hold we've got 5 riders all within 12 seconds of each other atop the standings. We're in for some crazy riding over the coming days. Stage 4 so a lackluster affair turned into a chess battle as Maxime Bouet refused to give up the lead he had worked so hard to get with the help of two others in the three man breakaway. Putting his foot down and venturing on solo he looked like he may have gotten close to home without the peloton. Heavy legs and going uphill were eventually his undoing as the peloton swallowed him whole and spat him out like it was nothing at all. Over the final few kilometers, carnaged ensued. We saw a pretty decent crash (luckily only two riders went down) and a complete arm wrestle for the stage victory. Coming out on top and taking home the chocolates was the man from team Dimension Data; Edvald Boasson Hagen. With the mountains looming large, the real battle begins. Can Contador dominate this star studded field or will a host of others prove their worth and take home the trophy. Stay tuned to The Roar for all of the Criterium du Dauphine coverage
James McKern
Roar Guru
General classification standings 1. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) @ 8:53:14 2. Chris Froome (Sky) + 0:04 3. Richie Porte (BMC) + 0:06 4. Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:09 5. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) + 0:12 6. Jesus Herrada (Movistar) + 0:27 7. Adam Yates (Orica GreenEdge) + 0:31 8. Diego Rosa (Astana) + 0:35 9. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) + 0:43 10. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) + 0:48
James McKern
Roar Guru
Believe it or not we've had some movement in the GC standings, Froome has jumped Porte and shortened up the gap to Contador.
James McKern
Roar Guru
Stage 4 Results 1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) 2. J.Alaphillippe (Etixx Quick-Step) 3. N.Bouhanni (Cofidis) 4. J.Debusschere (LTS) 5. G. Van Avermaet (BMC) 6. S.Dumoulin (ALM) 7. J. Keukerleire (OGE) 8. J. Degenkolb (TGA) 9. S. Bennett (BOA) 10. L. Pibernik (LAM)
James McKern
Roar Guru
Top 10 coming up
James McKern
Roar Guru
Onto the straight and after a perfectly timed sprint it's Edvald Boasson Hagen who takes the stage victory. What a finish
James McKern
Roar Guru
Still a lot of riders going after it here
James McKern
Roar Guru
Here we go, less than 1km to go. This is where things will get tricky
James McKern
Roar Guru
Oh wow a big crash has occurred. Looked like only two riders went down but my word that looked painful
James McKern
Roar Guru
Less than 3.5kms of racing to go, things are heating up
James McKern
Roar Guru
Under 19 seconds now, this climb has hurt Bouet. And the peloton gets him. Gallant effort from Bouet
James McKern
Roar Guru
Only 5kms left and the gap sits at just 14 secpmds. Bouet holding on for dear life
James McKern
Roar Guru
BMC/Sky/Cofidis all towards the front of the peloton
James McKern
Roar Guru
The peloton are within sight of Bouet, they're all over him here as the gap falls below 20 seconds. 6.6kms left, 18 second gap.
James McKern
Roar Guru
This is going to be close, only 24 seconds gap and 7.5kms left to ride. Can Bouet hold on?
James McKern
Roar Guru
Veuchelen and Nauleau have just been swallowed up by the peloton as they power ahead. Gap down under 30 seconds with less than 9kms to travel
James McKern
Roar Guru
Only 10kms to go and the gap sits at 34 seconds. Can the Peloton catch Bouet?
James McKern
Roar Guru
Problems at the back of the peloton, no major dramas though. Bouet has really pushed away and it looks like the stage victory will be all his barring a miracle
James McKern
Roar Guru
And Bouet attacks again, remarkable this. He's finally made this one stick and now surely he'll ride solo to the finish line.