As it happened: A milestone win for the world champion in a ferocious uphill sprint on Tour de France stage 4

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France!

I'm Matilda, Assistant Features Editor, and I'll be taking you through what promises to be an exciting day in France, with a punchy finish on the cards.

Yesterday was a really flat, pure sprinters' day, but even that delivered some chaos. Here's what happened:

Tour de France stage 3: Tim Merlier delivers win in Dunkerque on messy flat stage scattered with crashes

Jasper Philipsen out of Tour de France after heavy sprint crash during stage 3

'I'm not a bad guy' – Bryan Coquard apologises after Jasper Philipsen crash at Tour de France, still hit with fine and yellow card

Today is a much punchier day, with back-to-back short but steep climbs in the finale, and a little kick up to the line in Rouen to finish things off.

Historically, we'd call this a puncheur's day, but these days, stages like this often draw out the GC riders too, who are also some of the best puncheurs (and time trialists, and climbers, and descenders...).

My colleague James is on the ground, here's what people have been telling him about today:

'I'm sure the big boys will come out to play' – GC contenders expected to clash on punchy Tour de France stage 4 finish in Rouen

Here's what's on the cards today – 174.2km from Amiens to Rouen in northern France.

Some good news from this morning: Stolen Cofidis bikes recovered with help from police and Tour de France organisers

Here's a photo that sums up how chaotic yesterday was – Paul Penhoët walking to the finish after crashing on the final corner.

The riders have just started signing on in Amiens.

The neutralised start is set for 13.15 CEST, with the flag drop around 20 minutes later.

If you're waiting for the Tour to start, the Giro d'Italia Women is also on this week, so I'd recommend tuning into that – stage 3 is underway now, and they're about to go over the highest point of the race.

Here's what happened yesterday: Giro d'Italia Women: Anna Henderson claims maiden WorldTour victory on stage 2 and takes pink jersey on uphill finish to Aprica

It was a rollercoaster three days for Jasper Philipsen – from yellow to crashing out.

Cockpit stickers are honestly my passion. Love this one.

The last time the Tour was in Amiens, for a finish in 2018, Dylan Groenewegen won the stage.

Could this be a sign that he'll have a good day today?

You can even watch the sign-on live, if you want:

Here's the view at the start and bus paddock this morning:

And here's the actual start line looking all Tour-ified.

TDF stat

This is a great stat: thanks to Tim Merlier's win yesterday, Soudal-QuickStep have now won at least one stage in that last 13 Tours de France.

Remco Evenepoel will be certainly hoping to make it more than one in this Tour, though – maybe even tomorrow in the TT.

Just under half an hour to go until the neutralised roll-out.

The photographers are getting creative at the start.

10 points if you can guess which riders these are?

15 minutes until the neutral start.

Tadej Pogačar is back in his world champion's kit today, after sending Tim Wellens up the road yesterday to take the polka-dot jersey off him.

Dare we say that was because Pogačar wants to win in the rainbow bands today?

We also have a new green jersey today in Jonathan Milan.

TNT Sports have just been speaking Alpecin-Deceuninck's DS Christoph Roodhooft. He says Mathieu van der Poel reconned this stage finale two weeks ago.

Neutral start

And the riders are away for the neutral roll-out in Amiens!

A few Ineos riders are amassing at the front during the neutral here. That could be a sign that they want to be in the break, or they're just staying out of trouble.

After yesterday's lack of a break, viewers and commentators will be hoping there is a move today.

Remco Evenepoel had a little crash yesterday, but is feeling fine this morning, he tells the TV.

Still 10 minutes or so until the flag drops and the race is underway properly.

Victor Campenaerts is at the front now. He's a good contender for the breakaway today.

Ooh Lenny Martinez is also getting to the front.

We wrote all about him before the race: Project Lenny: Can Rod Ellingworth and Bahrain Victorious develop France's next Tour de France winner?

Photo of the day so far!

He'll be hoping to sting like a bee later on... (sorry)

We're out of town now and the official start is minutes away.

Official start

The flag drops and away we go!

As soon as the flag drops, the attacks start – Lenny Martinez is indeed the first to go, followed by Jonas Abrahamsen.

Just Martinez and Abrahamsen have gone for now, and the peloton has settled, but that doesn't mean more riders aren't going to try and bridge.

The gap is 20 seconds.

Here we go, a rider is trying to bridge. It's Thomas Gachignard from TotalEnergies. He's got a 30-second gap to close on his own.

170km to go

Gachignard is about to join Abrahamsen and Martinez, so that will be three riders in the lead.

Peloton is spread across the road but not quite settled down yet.

Gachignard makes the junction, and the gap is a minute.

Breakaway formed

55. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) +14:24

184. Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies) +4:11

222. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) +5:58

But not sure it's done just yet...

Yep, another attack goes.

Just as a few riders stop for a natural break, which is usually a sign that no more moves are going. Controversial.

It's Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost) who is on the attack after fighting up to the front of the peloton.

He has to bridge across a now 1:43 gap, but would be a very strong addition to the break.

The peloton seems fairly happy with this situation. They're not trying to shut down Asgreen. A four-rider break is a pretty good deal on a day like today.

Alpecin-Deceuninck, led by Silvan Dillier, have just moved to the front and taken control which signals that the break is probably set, and they're going to keep the gap under control.

And the riders are just pulling over for a natural break – when the yellow jersey goes, everyone goes.

Asgreen is about halfway between the leaders and the bunch.

Asgreen is still plugging away to make this junction.

Dilier did about 200km on the front during Milan-San Remo earlier this year. Could be a similar day for him today – Alpecin obviously have the yellow to defend, but they also want to win the stage in Rouen with Van der Poel.

Asgreen is now 42 seconds behind the leaders, who are 2:09 ahead of the bunch.

All the special jerseys at the start this morning.

Bryan Coquard has stopped to have his seatstay adjusted, and take a natural break at the same time. Multitasking I guess.

Asgreen is nearly there.

Alpecin are clearly keeping this one relatively close – the gap isn't going much above two minutes.

Asgreen joins the leaders.

This is a really strong four-rider group. Alpecin are doing the right thing by keeping it close, because these are the kind of riders who could spring a surprise if you give them too much leeway.

The peloton is currently going at 53 kph. Oof!

Possibly not a lot is going to happen for the next 50km or so, as the break is set and everyone will be looking at the climb-packed finale.

Want something to read in the meantime? May I recommend this extract from Luke Rowe's book Road Captain, where he recalls an anecdote where Chris Froome was beefing with Vincenzo Nibali at the 2015 Tour.

Tour de France or vintage Windows screensaver?

It's about 18 degrees in France at the moment, but beautifully sunny.

A rider to watch today?

Kévin Vauquelin of Arkéa-B&B Hotels. He's in the white jersey, and this is close to a home stage for him – who used to ride for a Rouen-based team – and he's close enough to yellow that he could indeed take it if he won with a small gap.

There's 2,000m of climbing on this stage, with five climbs in the last 50km.

Alpecin-Deceuninck are really giving the leaders nothing today. The gap is not even two minutes right now.

It's Visma-Lease a Bike who are lined up behind Alpecin.

They're looking after Vingegaard, of course, but I wonder if Wout van Aert could also be an option for the finale. He's coming back from illness but the climbs would suit him.

Here you go, architecture fans. This is the colossal cathedral in Amiens, the Notre Dame d'Amiens. It's as big as two Notre Dames de Paris.

Today's now-traditional start line selfie (ft. a rogue Matej Mohorič)

Asgreen calls for the car.

Some food, drink nd a chat for Asgreen as he goes back to the car. It's Tom Southam on DS duty for EF Education-EasyPost.

Still a good 80km to go until the first climb today. It's very much going to be a day of two halves; this calm and then a really fierce finale.

Here's a reminder of today's profile:

A reminder that Jonas Abrahamsen, who is in the break, only broke his collarbone a few weeks ago. Mad recovery.

Nine-day recovery from collarbone break sees Jonas Abrahamsen back in Tour de France team 'against all odds'

Alpecin-Deceuninck are all about Van der Poel today.

Quick stop for Tim Wellens, but he's back riding now.

He's in FULL polka dots today, even the helmet. He's just completed the feat of wearing the mountains jersey in all three Grand Tours (so it maybe wasn't all about getting Pogačar out of the jersey...)

'Our only goal is yellow in Paris' – Tim Wellens explains why he 'captured' Tour de France mountain classification lead from teammate Tadej Pogačar

Here's the polka-dot king.

120km to go

The four leaders, with little Lenny Martinez at the back.

The gap is 2:11.

It really is impressive what Silvan DIllier is doing here. Just controlling the break, on his own, for kilometres on end. No rotation needed for the Swiss man.

Riders are stopping to wee again. It's very chill today.

It's a glamorous life on Tour.

Émilien Jeannière is at the medical car. It's annoying some of the other riders out the back of the bunch that he's just being towed past them...

But this is how Jeannière finished the stage yesterday, so you can see why he's at the car.

The peloton just went through the beautiful town of Gerberoy.

Mathieu van der Poel is just chasing back onto the bunch after being at the car.

Lenny Martinez is putting in a little dig over a rise – well, a bridge that rises. But he doesn't go anywhere.

Silvan Dillier is still on the front. Obviously.

We're going over a bit of an uncategorised climb at the moment.

The peloton is pretty strung out. It's definitely not easy work to keep this strong break within two minutes.

100km to go

Most of the action is packed into the final 50km.

Lunch time in the peloton!

Riders are grabbing musettes from the side of the road and having some food.

EF Education-EasyPost have just moved up towards the front of the bunch.

Obviously they have Asgreen in the lead, but may also be thinking of someone like Healy or Powless for the final.

This man was impressive on stage 2. Could he go for it again today?

The break are working hard and riding well together, in a good through-and-off formation, but I'm not sure they have any chance of staying away, no matter how strong they are.

Today's average speed is 45 kph.

We have a whole feature on why the Tour de France is getting faster, and why it won't be slowing down soon.

Around 25km to go until we start the climbs.

75km to go

The peloton will be starting to think about reeling the break in now.

Van Aert spoke to TNT before the race. He's said he is hoping to be there in the finale, and to find some better legs – so he is after more on this stage than just looking after Vingegaard.

But he does think the GC contenders will be up there in the finish.

The gap is just starting to come down.

Not that I don't have much to say about this stage, but just realised we have riders 33, 55 and 222 in this break. So that's something.

It's Alpecin, Cofidis and EF at the front of the bunch.

EF won't be fully chasing, though, I expect.

Gap is already down to 1:20.

Here's a quick reminder of the climbs we have coming up:

• km 127 – Côte Jacques Anquetil (3.6 km at 3.4%)
• km 146.5 – Côte de Belbeuf (1.3 km at 9.2%)
• km 154.3 – Côte de Bonsecours (0.9 km at 7%)
• km 162.6 – Côte de la Grand'Mare (1.8 km at 4.8%)
• km 169.2 – Rampe Saint-Hilaire (0.8 km at 9.4%)

60km to go

It's the calm before the storm a bit here.

The teams lining up in colour order is a thing of beauty.

8km to go to the first climb.

It's the Côte Jacques Anquetil, named after the French cycling legend, who is from this area.

Crash

Crash! A handful of riders have gone down mid-bunch over some street furniture.

Sepp Kuss was one of them.

Matteo Vercher went down first and heaviest, but he's back riding already.

A few riders are chasing back on after that crash.

The speed is really rising in the peloton with this first climb coming up.

Climb

The break have just hit the Côte Jacques Anquetil.

Crash

Oof more riders down. A handful have just gone off the road and into a hedge.

The soft landing probably helped some riders there.

The peloton has just started the climb.

Fast pace up this climb and riders are being dropped already.

The gap is 1:18 and shrinking.

Lenny Martinez is on the attack on the climb.

Abrahamsen is following but Gachignard is dropping.

Martinez slows a bit and Asgreen is back with him and Abrahamsen, Gachignard too.

Felix Gall is having an issue in the peloton – he's here for GC so not a good time to have a problem.

KOM: Côte Jacques Anquetil (cat 4)

Asgreen takes the single KoM point, ahead of Martinez.

The peloton have just crested the top of the climb too.

The break are trying their best to stay away here, and they are strong.

Super tense in the bunch. They're all fighting for position up front.

Pogačar and Vingegaard are both in the first 25 riders or so, next to each other a few rows from the front.

About 13km to the next climb, so a bit of a lull, but a real key moment for positioning.

The leaders are a minute ahead.

Asgreen is doing quite a lot of work in the break.

The peloton is quite strung out at the back, though riders are coming back on the flat.

The gap keeps going down a bit, and then stabilising. Obviously the peloton have kept them close all day but they can't take the catch for granted now. Some teams are going to have to put a dig in to bring the leaders back.

Intermediate sprint coming up.

And the gap just dips below a minute, with 33km to go.

Puncture for Alaphilippe – teammate Dainese is stopping with him.

Alaphilippe is back riding, but already nearly a minute back. Bad moment to need a new wheel!

Gap is down to 30 seconds.

Intermediate sprint: Saint-Adrien

Abrahamsen takes the max points in the break, whilst Milan grabs fifth from the peloton, ahead of Girmay.

Just 20 seconds for the break, the peloton have them in view.

Alaphilippe and Dainese are fighting back through the convoy.

Gachignard is caught.

Climb

They've just started the Côte de Belbeuf (1.3 km at 9.2%).

This is short but steep and narrow.

Martinez is pushing on alone on this climb, ahead of Abrahamsen, who is about to be caught.

Martinez is really going all out.

KOM: Côte de Belbeuf (cat 3)

Martinez claims maximum two points.

The remaining one goes to king of the mountains Tim Wellens to extend his lead in the classification.

Alaphilippe is still struggling to make contact with the bunch.

Martinez is still holding onto 15 seconds, after a really strong climb.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG are controlling the bunch now, Alpecin-Deceuninck have been pushed out a bit.

Pogačar is on the wheel of Wellens in the group, as Uno-X move to the front.

25km to go

It's a big old fight in the bunch.

Crash

A mass of riders go down in a squeeze.

Harold Tejada, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Mick van Dijke all down.

A lot of riders held up there too, when the peloton is at full speed.

Paret-Peintre looks like he may be out of the race as he sits by the side of the road in tears.

That would be a loss for Evenepoel.

A bit of a descent is allowing riders to come back after that crash.

Martinez is still out front.

Potential stage contender Ben Healy is chasing back on.

And Martinez is caught by the Alpecin-led peloton.

20km to go

It's all going to kick off on these climbs.

Climb

Onto the 900m Côte de Bonsecours.

Alaphilippe has just joined the peloton again.

Alpecin are leading things up this climb, with Van der Poel right up front, though Pogačar is glued to his wheel.

Martinez is immediately sliding back, but he's had a much better day than the last few today.

Benoot is moving up the bunch for Visma-Lease a Bike.

KOM: Côte de Bonsecours (Cat 4)

Tobias Halland Johannessen takes the one point in a fairly uncontested sprint.

UAE are piling on the pace now, lining out the peloton.

5km until the next climb.

This run-in is super technical. So many narrow parts and badly-placed road furniture.

UAE and Alpecin are fighting for control at the front of the bunch.

Climb

We're onto the Côte de la Grand'Mare (1.8 km at 4.8%).

Kaden Groves is putting in an amazing shift for Alpecin here. He's not just a sprinter, that's for sure.

Ben Healy struggling at the back. Not a day for him. Alaphilippe pops as well.

Vingegaard and Roglič are right up front with UAE and Alpecin.

Pogačar is second wheel, just behind Wellens, with 600m to go on this climb.

Feels like an attack is coming... but when?

Ben O'Connor is dropped out the back of the bunch. Bad GC start for him so far after a crash on stage 1.

Vingegaard is on Pogačar's wheel, with his Visma teammates a little further back.

KOM: Côte de la Grand'Mare (cat 4)

Wellens takes another point.

Onto the descent. Van der Poel has just slid back a little.

Visma are bringing Vingegaard forward and taking control with Campenaerts.

Four Visma riders now lead the bunch: Campenarts, Vingegaard, Jorgenson and Van Aert in that order.

Just one 800m climb left, and then the kick up to the line.

10km to go

Tiesj Benoot comes to the front too. Visma are dominating right now.

Visma are pushing hard on the descent.

Big effort from Campenaerts here. Vingegaard is on his wheel, Van Aert is at the back of the Visma train.

Evenepoel has to close a gap to Pogačar at the foot of the next climb.

CLimb

Onto the Rampe Saint-Hilaire (0.8 km at 9.4%).

Evenepoel, Vingegaard, Pogačar and Van der Poel are all in the first 10 riders.

Barguil is moving up the peloton with Oscar Onley on his wheel.

Lipowitz is dropping at the back of the peloton.

Campenaerts finally swings off and Benoot takes over.

Narváez is leading out Pogačar on the climb.

Almeida comes up now and Pogačar hops onto his wheel.

And Pogačar goes!

Vingegaard is on his wheel. Van der Poel is not quite going with them.

These two are just on another level. It's Evenepoel who is chasing behind, Van der Poel can't match it.

Pogačar drops Vingegaard, but the Dane is fighting back.

KOM: Rampe Saint-Hilaire (cat 4)

Pogačar takes the point just ahead of Vingegaard. They're together now, 11 seconds ahead of the Van der Poel group.

Vingegaard isn't working with Pogačar.

The group behind is Evenepoel, Onley, Van der Poel, Jorgenson and Almeida.

Vingegaard comes through to take a turn, but the chasers are just a few metres behind.

Seven riders back together at the front now, with 4km to go.

Jorgenson attacks! Pogačar closes it.

Almeida and Jorgenson are on the front now, helping their leaders.

Chase group features a lot of VIsma and UAE teammates, as well as Primož Roglič and Mattias Skjelmose,. They're 21 seconds back.

Kévin Vaquelin and two other riders are about to catch onto the leaders – he's with Skjelmose and Romain Grégoire.

Remco Evenepoel attacks but not really going anywhere. Pace is intense.

Last kilometre!

Jorgenson is trying to take a flyer...

Almeida is trying to close the gap to Jorgenson, as Van der Poel moves up.

Jorgenson caught and we're sprinting to the line.

Almeida leading out ahead of Van der Poel and Pogačar.

Van der Poel launches.

Pogačar wins

But Tadej Pogačar takes the win!!!

The world champion powered past Van der Poel in the final few metres.

Van der Poel took second, with Vingegaard in third.

Correction: Pogačar will not take the yellow jersey from Van der Poel.

That's win number 100 for Pogačar, in rainbows. A bit of a perfect day.

And UAE were right to give polka-dots to Wellens yesterday – Pogačar wanted to take his first Tour win in rainbows.

Massively impressive sprint from Vingegaard. He was only a wheel behind Van der Poel, whilst the rest of the group were bike lengths back.

Results

Here's the full results.

Results powered by FirstCycling

The winning moment!

Correction

Van der Poel actually keep the yellow jersey on countback, so no yellow for Pogačar.

But they are on the same time now.

The new GC has Van der Poel and Pogačar equal on time, with Vingegaard at eight seconds.

There are a couple of losers on GC, but Ben O'Connor is the main one. He lost 1:49.

João Almeida was key in Pogačar's victory. He just said on TV last the last kilometre felt like three.

Well, no yellow, but Pogačar goes back into the polka-dot jersey, which he deliberately got rid of yesterday. At least he got his rainbow win, but he might not love wearing the race skinsuit in the TT tomorrow.

Remco Evenepoel managed to lose three seconds on the line as gapped opened in the sprint. But he can likely make that back in the TT.

Here's Pogačar and Vingegaard on the attack – just look at that gradient. Ouch.

Back on the podium. Just three stages between Pogačar's last TDF stage win (stage 21 last year) and this one.

These two actually do really like racing against each other.

Love a slo-mo.

Another day in yellow for Mathieu van der Poel. He'll fight hard to keep it tomorrow, as he did in 2021.

Milan keeps green.

Van der Poel says his legs were really hurting in the finale, and he was happy just to be there. He really was in a group of pretty elite climbers.

Pogačar is back into polka dots.

Kévin Vauquelin keeps white.

Need to catch up on the stage? Here's our race report:

Tour de France stage 4: Tadej Pogačar outduels Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard on hotly-contested sprint finish in Rouen