Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar surged past race leader Mathieu van der Poel just before the finish line to claim victory in stage four of the Tour de France on Tuesday, marking his 100th professional win and moving him level in the overall standings.
The 174.2-kilometer stretch from Amiens to Rouen culminated in a gripping sprint among the top three, with Pogacar edging out Van der Poel while Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike) secured third place.
Pogacar, the world champion, initially attempted a solo breakaway. Though Van der Poel retained the yellow jersey, Pogacar notched his milestone victory and joined him at the top of the leaderboard. "Winning at the Tour is incredible, especially in this jersey, and reaching 100 victories is amazing," Pogacar said.
An early breakaway featuring Lenny Martinez, Jonas Abrahamsen, Thomas Gachignard, and Kasper Asgreen was closely tracked by the peloton, led by Van der Poel’s team. The decisive action unfolded in the final 50 kilometers, with five categorized climbs packed into the closing stages. Martinez was the last breakaway rider to be caught with 20 kilometers remaining, following a crash that brought down several competitors.
Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates took charge heading into the penultimate climb before Visma-Lease a Bike assumed control, pushing hard on the descent. The anticipated late attack came on the final climb, with Pogacar launching a move but unable to drop two-time champion Vingegaard. A group of seven riders, including Van der Poel, formed for a tense finale.
Van der Poel struck first, aiming for his second stage win in three days, but Pogacar powered past him before the line. The stage win bonus erased the four-second gap between them in the overall standings.
"With so many strong riders in the final, you’re always on edge, unsure of what will happen," Pogacar said. "It’s only settled at the finish—like today. The adrenaline makes it pure racing, and I love it."
Vingegaard and Pogacar have dominated the last five Tours, with the Dane eight seconds behind the leading pair in third place overall.
Separately, reports indicate that an individual was arrested near the finish line at the Saint-Hilaire roundabout around 3 p.m. The person allegedly brandished a knife, attempting to stab an officer, who was unharmed due to protective gear. Another officer reportedly sustained a leg injury.
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