Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen makes the victory double pack perfect

Status: 07/04/2023 10:42 p.m

After the third stage, Jasper Philipsen also won the fourth stage of the Tour de France. In Nogaro, the 25-year-old prevailed again in the sprint on Tuesday (July 4th, 2023) – and took over the green jersey.

The day before, Philipsen had won the sprint in a controversial manner – but the jury did not punish the Alpecin professional for his block on the barrier against Wout van Aert. On Wednesday, Philipsen made it exciting again, but this time with undeniably fair means. In the final sprint, the favourite, who also took over the green jersey, started very early and saved a few centimeters ahead of Caleb Ewan at the end.

“It was a very easy stage, everyone wanted to rest for the Pyrenees. There were a few crashes, I hope everyone is okay. It was very hectic. I had cramps at the end,” said Philipsen. His biggest rivals van Aert and Fabio Jakobsen didn’t play a role in the finish – van Aert crossed the line in ninth place, Jakobsen crashed 1.5 kilometers before.

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Bauhaus strong – but later punished

However, Phil Bauhaus once again played a major role. The 28-year-old made it onto the podium again in third place and has thus established himself among the elite sprinters. “I finished on the podium twice in the world’s biggest bike race. I think I’ve proven that I’m one of the best,” Bauhaus told the German Press Agency. “The competitors all know me. They know that I’m not a newcomer. I’ve beaten them all.” Bauhaus had already finished second on Monday. The last few meters were overshadowed by another fall after two riders drove into the barrier.

Bauhaus is also said to have behaved incorrectly, a few hours after the stage he was punished three times over. The professional of the Bahrain Victorious team has to pay a fine of 500 Swiss francs (511 euros) and all 50 classification points for the green jersey of the best sprinter will be deducted. In addition, he receives a 30-second time penalty for the overall ranking. According to the tour management, Bauhaus illegally blocked the way of a competitor 1.8 km from the finish on the Circuit Paul Armagnac motorsport course. However, he retained his third place.

The first attack after almost 100 kilometers

As dramatic as the finish was, the action leading up to the stage, which was tailor-made for a sprint finish, was sluggish. After the very hilly start to this year’s Tour de France, the peloton had the opportunity to catch their breath on Tuesday, at least in terms of the route profile – before heading to the Pyrenees on Wednesday. On the 181.8 kilometers from Dax to Nogaro there was only one mountain classification in the fourth category. Although quite late in the course of the stage, but in terms of profile in such a way that it was not to be expected that she would have a decisive influence on the finish line.

Nevertheless, it was extraordinary how calm it was in the field of drivers. Almost nothing happened in the first 90 kilometers. It was worth mentioning that yesterday’s winner Philipsen won the only intermediate sprint of the day. In doing so, he virtually sprinted for the green jersey from Victor Lafay, who had duped top favorite van Aert shortly before the end of the second stage and won.

It was only after this first high point of the day that the race started to accelerate. Immediately after the intermediate sprint, the two Frenchmen Benoit Cosnefroy (ACT) and Anthony Delaplace (ARK) launched the first attack of the fourth stage at kilometer 97.

Quiet ride in front of the mountains

The peloton let the two go, but the gap didn’t increase too much. The duo pulled out a one-minute lead – but there was no chance of victory for Cosnefroy and Delaplace because the sprinters didn’t want to miss the chance that the profile of the course had given them. 25 kilometers before the end, the breakaway was finally over.

At that point at the latest there were no longer any doubts about the second sprint finish of this year’s tour. Again, Philipsen had the better end, but again there were other issues – in this case, the falls in the last few kilometers. From Wednesday, the sprinters will first have to reach the finish line unscathed. Van Aert could have good chances on the first mountain stage if he manages to jump into a breakaway group.

Yates effortlessly

Adam Yates, who finished in the peloton on Tuesday, heads to the Pyrenees in the yellow jersey. His advantage over favorite Tadej Pogacar and his twin brother Simon Yates is six seconds. The best German is Emanuel Buchmann in 19th place (+43 seconds).