Tour de France: Primoz Roglic Wins Fourth Stage, Julian Alaphilippe Retains Yellow Jersey | Cycling News

Race favorite Primoz Roglic edged Tuesday’s first summit end of the Excursion de France to win the fourth level, however didn’t drop any of his key competitors within the procedure, together with general chief Julian Alaphilippe. On an excellent day for racing, Roglic climbed to 3rd general in the back of Alaphilippe and Adam Yates as he edged house his Slovenian compatriot Tadej Pogacar at the rolling 160.5km run to the end line positioned 1,850m above sea degree.

The Alpine level have been billed as the instant the actual type of the quite a lot of contenders can be published and it was once right here in 1971 that fab Spanish climber Luis Ocana beat Eddy Merckx through 9 mins.

Not anything of that nature emerged on Tuesday, because the determined jostling and posturing over the overall kilometre of the 7.1km climb ascent to Orcieres-Merlette — at a 6.7 p.c moderate incline — culminated with 16 riders completing at the identical time, with the highest 3 taking small time bonuses of 10, six and 4 seconds.

The important thing weapon Roglic has in his armoury is his fabulous power which provides him an impossible to resist overdue kick, and whilst he used this to win, protecting champion Egan Bernal and fancied Frenchman Thibaut Pinot additionally hung on.

“It was once somewhat a difficult day in fact and it was once a pleasant win,” mentioned former ski jumper Roglic, who has saved a low profile since a terrible crash noticed him pull out of final month’s Criterium Dauphine earlier than the overall level in spite of main the race.

“I believe just a little higher each day, now not somewhat the similar as I used to be however I noticed on level two that I may nonetheless experience a motorbike,” added Roglic, who needed to chase Alaphilippe after the house favorite’s stage-winning efficiency on Sunday.

“Deceuninck (Alaphilippe’s group) set a prime tempo, so I knew we have been simply racing for the win these days and now not the entire lead.

“We all know what sort of champion Julian is, we noticed final yr he virtually completed most sensible.

“Thibaut (Pinot) may be a risk.”

Jumbo very laborious to stay alongside of

Colombian Bernal was once as soon as once more on his personal within the ultimate segment of the climb however saved his powder dry till emerging from his saddle as soon as Roglic put the hammer down simply 400m from the end line, striking with ease with the choose crew of round 20 who saved up.

Alaphilippe mentioned it have been a trying out day.

“If we discovered something, we discovered that Jumbo are very tricky to stay alongside of,” mentioned the Deceuninck chief who will don the entire chief’s yellow jersey for a 3rd immediately day on Wednesday.

“It was once a quick day with a double goal for me of retaining the yellow jersey and profitable the level. I am in reality glad about retaining the yellow.”

Alaphilippe led the Excursion for 14 days final yr earlier than wilting to 5th in a brutal finale within the Alps.

“Jumbo were robust for some time now,” he added.

“They’re obviously right here to win the Excursion, however believe me, they’ve an excessive amount of paintings nonetheless to do.”

Every other impressive fall

After Miguel Angel Lopez’s impressive face-first crash right into a signpost on level one, it was once the flip of Sunweb’s Tiesj Benoot to have a detailed shave.

The 26-year-old Belgian was once a part of the get away crew flying downhill when he hit a roadside barrier and skidded alongside it till his saddle snapped off and he flew head-over-heels right into a box, escaping and not using a scratch. Lopez mentioned Tuesday he nonetheless had a sore jaw and hip.

Promoted

Wednesday’s 5th level runs in the course of the Rhone valley from Hole to Privas within the wild, semi-deserted Ardeche area recognized for its chestnuts and boars.

The level is anticipated to climax with a mass bunch dash until there’s a crosswind.