As it happened: Sprint teams fail to bring back breakaway after thrilling chase on Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes stage 4

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with a battle between the breakaway and the team's who have versatile sprinters expected to ensue.

There's just under 30 minutes to go until the start in La Puy en Velay, with the riders returning to where stage 2 finished this morning.

If you missed any of the action from yesterday's stage, catch up with our report from what was a thrilling team time trial with big GC implications:

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Visma-Lease a Bike power to team time trial victory on stage 3, but EF's Baudin keeps yellow jersey after GC shake-up

After Netcompany Ineos were perhaps denied a stage win after waiting for Oscar Onley when he dropped his chain in the TTT, GC co-leader Kévin Vauquelin voiced his frustration, saying, "I don't think that would have been my strategy."

Their Head of Racing, Geraint Thomas has also had his say on the matter with a different perspective:

Thomas insists Netcompany-Ineos 'see the bigger picture' after Kévin Vauquelin voices TTT frustrations at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The are six categorised climbs in the first 110km of racing on today's 167km stage, but after that it's downhill and flat all the way to the line.

After breakaways stayed away to stages 1 and 2, the attackers will be hoping to get away from the teams containing fast men.

Look out for the likes of Dorian Godon (Netcompany Ineos), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) if things do come back together for a sprint.

One rider who would be right with, if not rated above, that trio under normal circumstances is Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike. After he struggled again on stage 3, it calls his form for the upcoming Tour de France into question:

'It is a bit disappointing, we are honest about that' – Worrying signs for the Tour de France as struggles continue for Wout van Aert

Unofficial start

The riders have rolled away from the start line in La Puy en Velay. There should be around 10 minutes of neutralised riding before they reach kilometre 0.

Big crowds were out to support the riders this morning.

Respect on the start line between Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Vauequelin, and Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost), who successfully defended the yellow jersey yesterday.

167.5km to go

Racing is fully underway on stage 4 now as the riders reach kilometre 0 and the flag is dropped.

Straight from the start the riders will be on the approach to the first categorised climb of the day: the Col de la Croix de l'Arbre (4km at 4.1%).

Delayed start

The start of stage 4 has actually been delayed due to a crash. Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) hit the deck in the neutral zone section en route to km 0.

Racing is now underway on stage 4!

There's been one abandon ahead of the stage start, UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Ivo Oliveira.

160km to go

There's been another crash, with Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal-QuickStep) and Thibault Guernalec (TotalEnergies) coming down 5.5km into the stage.

The first attacks are being launched on the Col de la Croix de l'Arbre, but the riders are battling with a headwind.

Early crash victim Veistroffer is suffering and off the back already as a result of that neutral zone incident.

A look at the early fall for Vansevenant and Guernalec.

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Several riders have been trying to attack off the front on this first climb, includnig the likes of US champion Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) but no break has formed yet.

Splits are forming in the peloton as they crest the first climb of the day.

150km to go

With that first climb completed, five more do remain on the route, but the next categorised section uphill doesn't come for another 50km at the Côte de Temple. The riders will have undulating roads, a long downhill, and the intermediate sprint in Arlanc to tackle before that, too.

Italian attacker Marco Frigo (NSN) was the rider who led the group over that first ascent, but the peloton is back together now.

Here's a look at the big early split which threatened to form on that climb. All back together for now and this fight for the break could go on for some time.

140km to go

With the descent navigated, the next 15km had uphill sections which offer more chances for escapees to try their luck before the big descent to Arlanc.

The defending Dauphiné champion may not be here, but Tadej Pogačar is still making the news:

Tadej Pogačar named as one of 100 most influential people in sport for 2026 alongside World Cup stars Messi and Ronaldo

Several more attacks have been launched as the race reaches Craponne-sur-Arzon, but none can get away to form a break.

This is good news for Netcompany Ineos and Jayco AlUla, who will want the fight to last as long as possible, making their job of controlling for Godon and Matthews later on easier.

The riders are heading onto a long section of downhill now. Unless anyone is really daring, the first for the break will have to reignite on the second climb of the day after 60km of racing are completed.

130km to go

It's the strong headwind which is preventing the attackers from getting away. Judging by the map, that won't change until they reach the 108km to go point, when the race turns east near Chaumont-le-Bourg.

Uno-X Mobility tried briefly to attack the descent. They would have had good memories on the start line as the location was where Anthon Charmig won stage 2, but were quickly brought back.

Coming up is intermediate sprint in Arlanc. The last time the Dauphiné came here was in 2017 when Arnaud Démare won the sprint on stage 2.

120km to go

The current holder of the points jersey who may be interested in the sprint for green jersey points is NSN's Nadav Raisberg. He leads the classification by five points from Charmig.

Intermediate sprint

Having won the intermediate sprints on stages 1 and 2, Raisberg extends his lead in the points classification by another 10 points in Arlanc.

He had lead-out man Hugo Hofstetter for company in second over the line, gaining six points, with Edoardo Affini (Visma-Lease a Bike taking four points.

With the sprint dealt with, the focus in the bunch will now turn to the next climb, the Côte du Temple (5.7km at 4.5%).

110km to go

The riders will change direction at the foot of the climb, out of the headwind. It likely still won't be ideal conditions for the attacks, though, as it will now turn to a cross-headwind.

Unlike the first climb of the day, the Côte du Temple won't be followed with a long section without any climbing.

Instead a short descent will lead the riders straight onto the Côte de Chougoirand (7.8km at 5.5%), where attacks could fly from the punchier break hunters.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have lost a rider as Haimar Etxebarria abandons mid-way through stage 4. He had been back to the medical car several times before stopping.

Onto the climb and the attacks are being launched once again.

Netcompany Ineos and Visma-Lease a Bike were towards the front on that long downhill section. Reminder that they have two of the big name favourites for today among their ranks: Godon and Van Aert.

100km to go

Midway through the Temple climb and racing is back together again. Seemingly no one can get ahead and stay ahead today.

Approaching the top of the day's second climb, a breakaway finally appears to be forming with US champ Simmons, Andreas Krøn (Uno-X Mobility) and Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) getting a gap on the Côte du Temple.

The peloton sit 25 seconds behind that lead trio, with two groups of chasers in the road between them:

Pablo Castrillo, Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar), and Matteo Vercher (Total Energies) at 10 seconds, and Jan Castellon (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and George Bennett (NSN) at 20 seconds.

Simmons led the race over the cat.3 Côte du Temple, taking the 2 KOM points, but he will be more interested in building out the break's gap on this short descent, before the hit the Chougoirand climb.

The five riders chasing the break trio have joined together and gained another escapee, Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

Here's a look at that initial breakaway trio, and Simmons' impressive, but probably not aero-optimised facial hair.

Three more have followed suit after Fisher-Black to make it nine in the second grop: Marco Frigo (NSN), Lars Craps (Lotto Intermarché) and Sam Watson (Netcompany Ineos).

The breakaway groups and the peloton are now on the Chougoirand climb, the longest ascent of today's stage and the only one which is a category.2.

90km to go

The break is now almost two minutes up the road from the peloton with the gap increasing.

Confirmation of the riders in front: Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Sam Watson (Netcompany Ineos), Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility), Pablo Castrillo, Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar), Lars Craps (Lotto Intermarché), Jordan Jegat, Matteo Vercher (Total Energies), Joan Castellon (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), George Bennet, Marco Frigo (NSN).

They are 1:35 ahead of the peloton with Hugo Houle (NSN) and Gijs Leemreize (Picnic PostNL) sat 30 seconds back in no man's land.

Riders are nearing the bottom of the third climb of the day. They'll be straight into the next ascent, the Col des Limites (3.7km at 5.5%).

80km to go

Houle gave up his chase and is now going back to the peloton. Leemreize is still pushing on, but had dropped to a minute down on the leaders.

The lead group is now over the Limites climb with a small gap on the chasing peloton. Their lead is down to 1:21.

It's Cofidis who are on the front of the peloton and chasing for Bryan Coquard. Could today be another big one for Le Coq?

70km to go

Onto the next section of descending, the breakaway is now approaching the final two climbs of the race, the Côte de Léringeux and Côte de Roche-en-Forez.

A look at the breakaway on stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with 12 riders up the road in search of the stage win.

The peloton is working well in the chase with the versatile sprinters surely licking their lips at how slim this gap to the breakaway is at 1:29.

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60km to go

Cofidis continue to pace on the front of the peloton. Sat just behind them are Visma and Alpecin-Premier Tech – will Van Aert go for the sprint?

The break is now on the final climb of the stage and the end of the 2100m of elevation gain. The break will have just 1:36 to defend on the descent and flat run to the line if they don't extend their lead on the uphill.

The 12-rider break is approaching the crest of the final climb. Key to them making it will be cooperation, and legs, of course.

Jan Castellon has taken nine KOM points during his time in today's breakaway, but that isn't enough to overhaul the lead of Clement Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ United) who will keep the blue and white polka-dot jersey tomorrow.

Approaching the last and a key downhill section of today's stage, some of the GC teams like Visma and Ineos and moving up to position themselves.

The breakaway's advantage remains at 1:27 for now.

Whatever happens on today's finale, it looks likely that Alex Baudin (EF) will successfully defend the yellow jersey again. With a possible sprint tomorrow, the stage 1 winner could hold it all the way until the brutal trio of mountain stages at the weekend.

50km to go

The gap to the break is steadily decreasing on the descent.

Cooperation in the break is far from perfect, despite the multiple strong engines up in front.

If they can survive in front, there are three teams in the move with two riders: Movistar, NSN and TotalEnergies. This is just the latest example in the Spanish team's ultra attacking season, which they showed off constantly at the Giro.

It's Visma who are holding front position on the peloton to navigate the downhill. Gap down to 1:12 from the break. There has been whispers of a potential change in wind at the bottom which will make everyone nervous as they change direction en route to Montrond-les-Bains.

Bahrain Victorious have now moved into that space Visma were occupying. Their fast-man Phil Bauhaus has been spotted in this group and would be a great option if this ends in a flat sprint.

Could today be Wout van Aert's day? He hasn't shown the form yet in this race, but you never know with one of the best riders of this generation.

40km to go

Crash in the breakaway!

Crash

It's the British champion Sam Watson (Netcompany Ineos) who has come down. He's sat up on the ground and it doesn't look good. He came down heavily on his right side at high speed after appearing to lose control – unclear exactly what caused it.

Watson is thankfully on his feet but clearly in pain. The replay seems to show his front wheel wobbling as he tried to hold onto it before losing control. He took most of the impact on his hip but is remounting his bike now with a broken boa strap on his shoe.

The remaining riders in the breakaway are now off the descent. George Bennett has dropped back from the move though, holding his hand up and requiring assistance of some kind.

30km to go

For the ten breakway riders left in front: Simmons, Fisher-Black, Kron, Castrillo, García Pierna, Craps, Jegat, Vercher, Castellon and Frigo, their lead is now less than a minute from the peloton.

Back in the peloton, Tudor have also started to ride, with more teams getting interested in this finale.

Curiously, Bennett has dropped back to the break from the peloton, leaving teammate Frigo alone in front. If it was a tactical call to save his legs for another day, it was a late one.

All of the GC names are sat looking comfortably in the peloton for now. But with a cross-tailwind blowing for the final run for home, it certainly won't be an easy one with lots of nerves for those chasing yellow.

The break are riding well together now, but the gap continues to tick down, now at 50 seconds with several teams chasing hard behind at close to 60kph.

20km to go

Gap to the break now under 40 seconds. It's coming back quickly now.

Reminder that there is big potential for chaos in the finale of today's stage, with this very straight 9km road leading the riders to the finish line. It will suit the big power guys with a tailwind possibly pushing very high speeds.

Just 550 metres separates the 10 riders in front from the chasing peloton behind. Still, those in front cooperate well.

It's full Cofidis at the front for now, with clear confidence in their man Coquard. Bahrain sit just behind them.

The gap from the peloton to the break has ticked down again approaching the final 10km, now at only 23 seconds. It looks like the sprinters will have their day.

10km to go

Almost all of these last 10km will be on that dead straight road I pointed out earlier.

Gap down to 15 seconds as it looks like the break's time in front is about to come to an end.

Simmons had attacked in the breakaway, perhaps getting the call in his radio that the peloton were coming, but he was caught.

With just over 5km to go, the peloton is just 19 seconds back as the break continues to try and make it. Any big hesitations will certainly end their time in the lead.

This straight road is brutal, especially with strong winds blowing, Visma continue to pace on the front.

3km to go

The break are doing well and holding off the push from Cofidis in the peloton. So many teams are interested in this, but it will be a late catch if they do get them.

Gap down to 16 seconds.

Now down to 13 seconds as the speeds are up to 62kph. This is quite the battle.

Visma-Lease a Bike are now on the front to try and do this last bit of chasing, which will be for Van Aert. It's the strong legs of Edoardo Affini pulling.

1km to go

Attack from the breakaway from Castrillo as the games begin. 70kph as the games begin under the flamme rouge.

The breakaway is going to pieces with the peloton breathing down their necks. Just nine seconds they lead by now.

500 metres to go and it's eight seconds. They might still make it!

Everyone can thank Castrillo for saving the break as they sprint for the stage win. the peloton aren't going to make it.

Simmons goes to the line with Fisher-Black and the US champion celebrates.

Stage finish

Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) wins stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with a fanatstic long sprint.

Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) went close but couldn't get back to the US champion's front wheel. Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) was third on the day from the break.

The winning moment for Simmons on stage 4. This was his first win in France and third at WorldTour level.

Visma-Lease a Bike may be left kicking themselves after Van Aert won the sprint behind the break for fourth. In any case, it's a good sign that the Belgian's form is heading in the right direction after three days of struggling at this race.

There was a few minor changes on GC with Visma domestique Bruno Armiral dropping out of the peloton after some big pulls on the front. Him falling from eighth to 16th has pushed pre-race favourite Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) into the top 10.

EF Educaiton-EasyPost's Alex Baudin continues to lead the race after his breakaway win on stage 1. With a likely sprint, or breakaway finish coming again tomorrow, it's feasible he holds it until the first of three big mountain tests on Friday.

Here's what Simmons had to say as he took in the victory:

"You never know when you're last chance to win in the national jersey is, you have to earn it back every year, and I'm so proud to race in it, and on this team. To be flying this flag in Europe, it's beautiful for me," said Simmons in the mixed zone.

"I actually don't know how close it was. I never looked. But to be honest, when we only had a minute and a half with 70k to go or whatever, I didn't believe, but I wanted a hard day in front to prepare for what comes next, so you've just got to commit. I've never won a sprint before, so that's pretty cool.

"I think our whole team is going super well."

I prepared super well thanks to the team and my coach. I came from the US straight here, and whenever I come from home, I ride at a really high level. Often times I struggle to execute that form, so it's nice to have a little payback for that form."

If you're after a full recap of the action on stage 4, head to our stage report from another thrilling day at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes:

Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Quinn Simmons blasts to victory on stage 4 from 10-rider breakaway with peloton breathing down their backs

The profile for tomorrow's stage 5 reveals a similar route that looks perfect for breakaway vs sprint teams, but with much less climbing. If the likes of Visma, Bahrain, Ineos, and Cofidis can shut down most of the attacks over those first two climbs and stop a massive group getting away, the sprinters could well have the chance they missed out on today.

That's all for our live coverage of today's stage. Thanks for joining me. Make sure you look out for news coming out in the evening and come back tomorrow for our coverage of stage 5 from Saint-Chamond to Parc des Oiseaux Villars-les-Dombes.