On the start line in Cambrai

Riders enjoyed pleasant summer temperatures and sunny skies for their departure from Cambrai to Reims, heading out for the Tour de France's fourth stage. There were plenty of riders sporting bandages after the cobbled roads of stage 3 and the massive pile-up on the day before, so it was clear from the start that this would be a day for the sprinters.

However, the sprinters were well-represented amongst the injured: Tyler Farrar is riding with a fractured arm. "I hope to be able to sprint again by the second week of racing. I think I'll need a few more days to let the swelling go down and everything, before being competitive again," he said yesterday.

Robbie McEwen is also sporting a bandage on his arm, Mark Cavendish has hit the ground a few times but is the odds-on favourite for the flat run-in.

But Thor Hushovd, Cervelo's powerful sprinter, has the green jersey and the matching kit to go with it, and will look to take his second stage win of the Tour when the race negotiates the many roundabouts into the finish in Reims.

Enjoy this gallery from the start line in Cambrai.

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