As it happened: Yara Kastelijn wins Tour de France Femmes stage 4 as Vollering gains time

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes.

Today's stage is the longest of the 2023 race at 177.1km and should provide the perfect arena for the GC fight to properly kick off on a hilly parcours that increases in difficulty as the kilometres tick by. 

The riders are completing sign-ons and the team presentation in Cahors ahead of the neutralised roll out at 12:25 CEST. 

Here's a look at the profile of stage 4 which shows the mainly flat opening 80 alongside the difficult final 30km where the race will be decided. Three categorised climbs and a bonus sprint should entice the GC favourites into looking for advantages over their rivals.

No prizes for guessing who was bringing the good vibes on the podium this morning.  

Lidl-Trek are next up on stage with their very strong team focused around Elisa Longo Borghini who should play a big role in today's stage. 

We're around 20 minutes from the start of stage 4 now with Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) being announced on stage alongside the reading of her incredibly decorated palmarès.

It wasn't to be for Julie Van de Velde (Fenix-Deceuninck) in the finale of stage 3 as she was caught in the final straight, but her solo adventure in front of the peloton did earn her a day in the polka-dot jersey. Expect her to try and get into any breaks that form today to defend and extend her lead of that classification. 

Here come SD Worx with the race leader, Lotte Kopecky. It's her third day in yellow after winning the opening stage. She still holds a 55 second advantage over Liane Lippert (Movistar) in the overall standings, with Ashleigh Moolman (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep) in third a further 10 seconds behind. 

The riders are on the line in Cahors ready for the start of stage 4. 

Nice embrace at the start line between Kopecky and Van de Velde, two of Belgium's finest. 

Stage 4 of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes is underway! The flag should be waved at 12:40 CEST where official racing will begin. 

Should be a big day out for the World Champion, Van Vleuten. 

Thankfully no DNS today which means 146 riders have started stage 4. 

177.1KM TO GO

The longest stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes is officially underway!

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) opted to stay in her European Champion's jersey despite having the option of wearing the green jersey. It was probably down to not actually leading that classification and still trailing her teammate Kopecky by 25 seconds. Moolman is wearing green as Kopecky is, of course, in the yellow jersey. 

The riders will complete a small westward loop towards the first categorised climb of the day, the Col de Crayssac (2.3km at 4.8%), before traversing east to Rodez. 

165KM TO GO

Henrietta Christie (Human Powered Health) is the first rider to get a gap from the peloton. 

The Kiwi's gap in front is 20 seconds as of now. 

Christie is at the foot of the first climb, the Col de Crayssac. 

Once the climb started, Christie was quickly caught by the bunch being led by those infested in the QOM points. 

160KM TO GO

Four riders have attacked out of the bunch. 

More moves have been made involving Anouska Koster (Uno-X). She was first to cross the QOM point with Kathrin Hammes (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) in second. Koster is no equal with Van de Velde virtually in the lead of the QOM classification. 

A look back on Christie in the first attack of the day. 

A leading group of 14 riders have a 20-second advantage over the peloton, with a smaller group chasing them in the gap. 

The majority of big teams are represented, with Christine Majerus for SD Worx, Lucinda Brand for Lidl-Trek, Sheyla Gutiérrez for Movistar and Coryn Labecki for Jumbo Visma.

Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck), Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Human Powered Health) and Romy Kasper (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep) are in this huge leading group with the likes of Koster and Hammes. Huge break forming. 

The smaller chasing pack has been caught with the group of 14 now 50 seconds ahead of the peloton. 

150KM TO GO

It's 55 seconds of an advantage now for the breakaway. 

Full list of riders and their nationalities below. 

The race has made the turn east and is about to pass Cahors again before entering into a long flat section of racing ahead of the next categorised climb which comes at 92.2km to go. 

Very late attempt to bridge the gap by Maaike Colké (Arkéa-Samsic) which goes nowhere. Arkéa and Cofidis will be gutted that they've missed this move. 

140KM TO GO

Big teams to have missed out: FDJ-SUEZ, Canyon SRAM, DSM-Firmenich and UAE ADQ. Expect SD Worx to do little to no work with Majerus up there in the break. 

Koster and Gutiérrez leading the breakaway which now has a 4:00 lead over the peloton. 

Cordon-Ragot has gone into the lead of the virtual general classification having started only 2:21 down on Kopecky at the start of the stage. 

Crash in the peloton for a Uno-X and Cofidis rider. 

130KM TO GO

The breakaway's gap is at a massive 5:50 from the peloton. 

Elise Uijen (DSM-Firmenich) has unfortunately abandoned the race leaving 145 riders remaining. She was struggling yesterday and finished last, 19:42 after Wiebes won the sprint. 

The two riders who crashed are back in the peloton, Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Uno-X) and Martina Alzini (Cofidis). 

120KM TO GO

Latest time gap to the break is 7:45.

Even with the backloaded climbs on today's parcours, this breakaway will really take some chasing if they are going to be caught before reaching Rodez. 

The riders are currently passing through Tour-de-Faure. 

110KM TO GO

With no real efforts behind to chase or control the gap, the break is now 8:45 up the road. 

KEY POINTS FOR THE REMAINING 110KM

92.2km to go - Climb: Côte de Falgeyras (3km at 4%)
46.5km to go - Intermediate Sprint: Rignac
34.4km to go - Climb: Côte de Colombiès (6.5km at 4.2%)
29km to go - Bonus sprint: Limayrac
15.4km to go - Climb: Côte de Moyrazès (4.6km at 5.5%)
8.9km to go - Climb: Côte de Lavernhe (2.2km at 7.1%)
Finish: Rodez

Unfortunately two more riders have abandoned the race: Rachele Barbieri (Liv Racing-TeqFind) and Anais Morichon (Arkéa). 

Wiebes is pulling in the peloton behind for SD Worx. 

100KM TO GO

Could today be the day for Demi Vollering (SD Worx)to gain some time ahead of van Vleuten ahead of the big mountain stage up the Tourmalet on Saturday and Sunday's time trial?

The finale 50km of the parcours could resemble a portion of racing in the Ardennes with it's punchy climbs that come thick and fast. Vollering dominated the Ardennes classics and took a famous triple there this year so look out for her on the attack. 

Koster was first over the Côte de Falgeyras and took the two QOM points with Hammes taking the other one. Koster has now moved into the virtual lead of that classification, with Hammes jumping into equal second alongside Van de Velde. 

88KM TO GO

The next 35 kilometres will be raced over undulating terrain before we reach the intermediate sprint and the most important phase of the race will start. 

There is still a maximum of 11 QOM points on offer throughout the final 80km which Koster will be eyeing up to confirm a day in the polka-dot jersey. Both Hammes and Kastelijn will be trying their best to stop her. 

75KM TO GO

SD Worx are still pulling in the peloton through Wiebes and Cecchini. 

The gap at the front has gone out to 10:20 with the pace being re-injected in the break after the categorised climb. It's tough to see this stage not going to the break and a new rider wearing the yellow jersey tomorrow.

Just a reminded that if the race stopped now, Cordon-Ragot would go into the yellow jersey. The next closest rider to Kopecky's lead is Kastelijn who started the day 20 seconds behind the former French National Champion.

65KM TO GO

Human Powered Health are up towards the front of the peloton to try and stifle any concerted efforts to chase. They will desperately want to get Cordon-Ragot into yellow with this fantastic opportunity. 

UAE ADQ have committed a rider to the front of the peloton. They were one of the big teams to miss out on this move once it went. 

Small coming together at the back of the peloton involving Julie De Wilde (Fenix-Deceuninck) and two St Michel-Mavic-Auber93 riders just as they entered the litter zone. 

The breakaway is approaching the intermediate sprint point in Rignac. 

50KM TO GO

Canyon SRAM are now swapping turns with UAE ADQ and SD Worx at the head of the peloton. 

Kastelijn and Majerus have notably been missing turns on occasion in this front group, the former as she has Marthe Truyen with her to pull and the latter as she is on the strongest team that has the yellow jersey behind. 

Kasper was first over the intermediate sprint point ahead of Brand and Truyen. 

Kastelijn is a very talented climber and won't be someone the peloton wants to give an eight minute advantage to. Wiebes is back on the front with Bredewold behind and Canyon SRAM also swapping in with them to try and reduce the now 8:31 deficit. 

Cordon-Ragot has kicked on over this small descending section which precedes our next categorised climb. Kastelijn was aware to this and didn't let her get away as the break starts the Côte de Colombiès. 

40KM TO GO

This climb signifies the beginning of the most crucial part of stage 4, with three categorised climbs and a bonus sprint, before the final uphill kick to the line in Rodez. We could see the race at the front and the race in the peloton kick off simultaneously. 

This climb is 6.5km at 4.2% and they will crest it 5.4km before the bonus sprint into Limayrac. 

Korevaar is pulling in the break for De Jong, who is just one of a number of cyclocross stars in this big move. Brand, Kastelijn, Majerus, Truyen and Azruffi have all had success at the national and world level off-road.

Riders are beginning to drop off the back of the peloton under the pace on this climb. Gap to the breakaway is down to 6:47. 

Bredewold kicks away out of the peloton with Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) on her back wheel. 

Are SD Worx planting satellite riders up the road for Vollering to bridge across to in an attack? She's got Majerus in the break and now Bredewold ahead on the climb. 

35KM TO GO

DSM-Firmenich have been chasing in the peloton behind with the gap now down to 5:43 for the break. Bredewold has given the likes of Reusser and Kopecky a chance to hide in the wheels and not pace. 

Kopecky attacks as I typed that! Niewiadoma is trying to follow. 

Deignan pulling on the front behind for Lidl-Trek to try and pull back Kopecky. 

Peloton is completely stretched out under the pressure of this attack. Niewiadoma has showed incredible form over these first four stages. 

Deignan reels back in the attacking duo as Hammes attacks the breakaway in pursuit of the QOM points at the summit. Koster sets off in the chase to challenge her. 

The attack for the QOM points has split this front group and Cordon-Ragot is on the wrong side of it with Kastelijn getting away from her. 

FDJ-SUEZ are now taking up the chase after also missing out on the big breakaway. Uttrup Ludwig will be their pick for the day having won a similar stage in last year's Tour de France Femmes. 

Here's a look at that attack from Kopecky. 

27KM TO GO

Cordon-Ragot outsprints Kastelijn for the bonus sprint. That's six and four seconds respectively gained and the two of them keep their foot on the accelerator ahead of the other 12 breakaway riders. 

Our next climb is the only category 2 test of the day, the Côte de Moyrazès (4.6km at 5.5%). 

Movistar come to the front through Biannic with Van Vleuten actually in second wheel just behind her. Will we see the World Champion go early?

Reusser, Vollering and Kopecky are all close behind as Van Vleuten hits the front. Peloton behind is in tatters. 

The breakaway is all back together at the front after Majerus chased down Kastelijn and Cordon-Ragot. 

Kopecky hits the front again with Markus in her wheel. The gap to the break has melted to a comparatively slim 3:30. 

Very select group forming under the pressure of Kopecky in the remnants of the peloton. Muzic dropped alongside Cavalli which means Uttrup Ludwig will be isolated for FDJ-SUEZ.

Reusser has also been dropped under this infernal pace. SD Worx are running out of firepower. 

20KM TO GO

Can the break still make it to the finish in Rodez?

Elise Chabbey (Canyon SRAM) attacks the peloton on the descent. Gasparrini and Lippert are trying to chase her down. 

Korevaar is the first to drop out of the break after working to help De Jong's chances. 

Kastelijn attacks!

Cordon-Ragot has attacked the remainder of this group who are unable to follow for now. 

Hammes nearly gets taken out by a photo motorbike, but narrowly avoids disaster with some sound bike-handling skills. 

Kopecky is back on the front and is splitting the peloton. Kastelijn is attacking Cordon-Ragot again at the head of the race. 

The pace in the peloton swells again as Kastelijn kicks on with 3km remaining on this climb. 

Kopecky attacks again! This time she gets some immediate separation. 

17KM TO GO

Vollering can sit in and leave Kopecky to charge up the climb. No concerted chasing effort has formed yet with the yellow jersey pulling away. 

Kastelijn has left Cordon-Ragot 44 seconds behind her. Kopecky is still 3:01 back on the lone leader and around 20 seconds in front of the peloton. 

Vollering is strangely on the front, but hasn't actually attacked. Kopecky's advantage has been reduced to 10 seconds. 

There's a small descent for Kastelijn to navigate before she hits the final climb, the Côte de Lavernhe (2.2km at 7.1%). 

10KM TO GO

Kastelijn took the maximum five QOM points on the last climb, but with Koster coming in second and maintaining her lead at the top of the mountains classification to four points over her Dutch compatriot, Koster will wear the polka-dot jersey tomorrow with a maximum of only three points available on the final climb.  

Kopecky began the day 2:41 ahead of Kastelijn in the overall standings. With the four seconds gained at the bonus and the 10 she would gain for winning the stage, Kastelijn would need to finish 2:27 ahead of Kopecky to go into the yellow jersey.

Kerbaol is struggling at the back of the peloton in the white jersey, but when the pace lulls she is able to get back in. 

Kastelijn crests the final categorised climb of the day with a 2:34 lead over Kopecky. She'll get some respite on the descent, but will have the final ramp to the line to deal with before taking victory. 

Van Vleuten has attacked and reached Kopecky! Gutiérrez is giving a final pull for the World Champion.

Vollering attacks and Gutiérrez is trying to legally block her to help Van Vleuten. The World Champion is struggling to hold on, but she's crested the climb and has her Spanish teammate to help her. 

Persico, Lippert, Uttrup Ludwig and Bauernfeind all dropped. 

Van Vleuten attacks which forces Vollering to latch straight onto her back wheel. 

5KM TO GO

Our lone leader, Kastelijn is closing in on the biggest win of her career and her first on the road, her first at World Tour level and at the Tour de France Femmes of all races. 

Niewiadoma attacks as the group of favourites come back together, but can't create any separation. 

Here's Vollering's attack on the climb. 

2KM TO GO

Kastelijn is going to do it barring any disaster in the final 2km. What a day for Fenix-Deceuninck even if it isn't for the yellow jersey. 

Labous attacks the group and gets away. She lots time on the opening stage and is trying to gain that back now. Kopecky looked around knowing the young French rider isn't as big an immediate threat. 

Flamme rouge for Kastelijn ahead of the biggest moment of her career. Chapeau to Fenix-Deceuninck. It wasn't to be for Van de Velde as she was caught in the final 200 metres yesterday, but her teammate has got into the break again today and is going to claim a huge victory. 

Kopecky isn't too bothered with chasing Labous, but this group of GC favourites could still explode on the final ramp. 

STAGE FINISH

Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) wins stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes after an incredible day in the breakaway! She roars across the line with arms aloft.

Van Vleuten and Vollering start to catch the remnants of our breakaway. This final ramp is so steep. 

Vollering has kicked away in pursuit of some bonus seconds. 

Koster gets caught in the final few hundred metres by Vollering who may have thought she won the day, but she did take some bonus seconds on the line. 

Kastelijn is sharing a wonderful embrace with family at the line. It's the biggest win of her life on the grandest stage of all at the Tour de France Femmes. she finished 1:11 ahead of Vollering in the end in second with Koster in third. 

Here's what Vollering had to say after finishing second on the stage, but still celebrating over the line:

"We tried our best and in the end I think I was second. I didn't know because I had no clue what was happening in front so I celebrated anyway. It was a crazy day."

It was an incredibly tough day on the longest Women's World Tour race of the whole year which Vollering stated evened out the racing:

"You really feel it in the bunch, everybody is really tired and nobody has that really explosive attack anymore to go away, but everybody can follow so that makes it really even harder because normally I think multiple riders can make a difference on the climbs, but everyone was on the same level."

Here's the full results of a cracking day's racing via FirstCycling.

What a day for Yara Kastelijn. Here's what she had to say after the biggest victory of her life:

"It's really a dream. I can't believe this - it is really a team victory because I had to do nothing all day. I think the other girls in the front group are a bit angry with me but my coach told us we are not here to make friends. A victory is what we want and we have it now - and I'm super proud of this.

"There were so many people on the course and I really wanted to fight for every second. The final metres were amazing."

Kastelijn led the mountains classification after being on the attack on stage 2 but ceded it to her teammate Van De Velde on stage 3. Fenix-Deceuninck put two riders in the move - Kastelijn and Marthe Truyen - to keep the jersey but came away with a much bigger prize.

"In the beginning, we wanted to be in the break for some points for the classification but I wasn't that explosive and Anouska and the other girl (Kathryn Hammes) took all the points. I was really happy Marthe was with me and so I could stay relaxed. We had a gap of 10 minutes - I didn't expect it in the beginning but it's amazing that we win here.

"Yesterday we were really proud and we are still proud of everybody. It's incredible that yesterday we already had two mountain jerseys and today the victory. It's the best Tour de France so far - it's just amazing."

Van Vleuten lost two seconds to Vollering on the line and the six bonus seconds she gained on the line. Here's what the World Champion had to say after a punishing day in the saddle:

"It was a nice ride no, I think. Was really happy that the team plan played out how we wanted. I was never really into troubles because of that, I think it was good we took the lead also in the descents and everyone did a really good job today."

Van Vleuten was helped from being dropped by her teammate Gutiérrez who had had been in the break all day.

"It was for sure the plan to have at least one [rider] in the front and she [Gutiérrez] did an awesome job because in the last 200m just before the climb Demi [Vollering] attacked and I left 50 metres or something and Sheyla closed that with me in the wheel. Super nice to have a teammate with you."

"I think this was quite a punchy day so normally its a little bit less good for me. I think we both showed like Demi's also really good and lots of other girls are really strong. I look forward to Saturday maybe a little bit more after today because I think I have good legs."

Kopecky held onto her yellow jersey for another day after another strong display of attacking off the front. She leads by 43 seconds from teammate Vollering with Moolman in third a further eight seconds behind. 

Van Vleuten sits in sixth overall, also eight seconds back on her key rival. The big movers today were Kastelijn who jumped 25 places up to seventh overall, and Labous, whose late efforts pushed her up 14 positions into ninth on GC. 

Here's the moment Kastelijn was congratulated over the line by her team and then her family. What an incredible performance by the 25-year-old Dutch rider. 

Make sure you read Laura Weislo's full stage report after a crazy day at the Tour de France Femmes and check out our gallery from the day's action.

Tour de France Femmes: Yara Kastelijn climbs to first pro road victory on demanding stage 4

Tomorrow's stage should be another chance for the sprinters after today's brutal 177km of racing. It's a relatively easier 126.1km route with three categorised climbs, but none of them should trouble the likes of Vos and Wiebes and we should see another bunch finish. 

That wraps things up for Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes which was won by Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) after an incredibly difficult day in the breakaway. 

Check back tomorrow for live coverage of the fifth stage and in the meantime make sure to read all the news and other great content being produced by our team at the race in France.