Summary

  • Stage 4: 172km route from Dunkirk to Calais

  • The race enters France with a hilly route along the NW coast

  • Dylan Groenewegen won stage three in a photo finish

  • Wout van Aert in leader's yellow jersey

Live Reporting

Chris Bevan

  1. Goodbye for now

    Right that's all on this live page for today. Here's our report on Wout van Aert's stunning victory on stage four.

    We'll be back for stage five, when the race heads from Lille to Arenberg on Wednesday, and hits the cobbles!

    In the meantime, you can stay across all the latest cycling news on the BBC Sport website and app.

  2. Stage Four results

    1. Wout van Aert (Bel/Jumbo-Visma) 4hrs 01min 6 sec

    2. Jasper Philipsen (Bel/Alpecin-Deceuninck) + 8 secs.

    3. Christophe Laporte (Fra/Jumbo-Visma) Same time

    4. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/Intermarche) Same time

    5. Peter Sagan (Svk/TotalEnergies) Same time

    6. Luca Mozzato (Ita/B&B Hotels) Same time

    7. Danny van Poppel (Ned/Bora-Hansgrohe) Same time

    8. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra/Arkea-Samsic) Same time

    9. Michael Matthews (Aus/BikeExchange-Jayco) Same time

    10. Benjamin Thomas (Fra/Cofidis) Same time

  3. General Classification after stage four

    1. Wout van Aert (Bel/Jumbo-Visma) 13hrs 02mins 43secs

    2. Yves Lampaert (Bel/Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) +25secs

    3. Tadaj Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +32secs

    4. Mads Pedersen (Den/Trek-Segafredo) +36secs

    5. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +38secs

    6. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) +40secs

    7. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Jumbo-Visma) +41secs

    8. Adam Yates (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +48secs

    9. Stefan Kung (Swi/Groupama - FDJ Same time

    10. Tom Pidcock (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +49secs

  4. Important points for Laporte

    Van Aert's Jumbo-Visma team-mate Christophe Laporte, freed from his usual role as lead-out man, sprinted to third place ahead of Alexander Kristoff and Peter Sagan. Taking those points from his potential rivals will help van Aert in the Green Jersey competition.

  5. Can anybody stop this man?

    Last year, Wout van Aert won a mountain stage on Mont Ventoux, a time trial and a bunch sprint on the Champs-Elysees.

    For most people, that'd be pretty hard to beat.

    By riding away from the entire field - including all the GC contenders - to win a stage in the Yellow Jersey, he might just have done it.

    Wout van Aert wins Stage 4 of the Tour de FranceGetty Images

  6. 'This jersey gives you wings'

    Yellow Jersey and stage winner Wout van Aert was just asked if he was sick of being beaten by a bunch sprint and replied with a smile: "I didn't want to take the risk anymore."

    He flapped his arms before punching the air at the line and explained his celebration by saying "this jersey gives you wings".

  7. Van Aert extends overall lead

    Van AertReuters

    Wout van Aert's win today means he extends his overall lead in the Yellow Jersey - he's now 25 seconds clear.

  8. What a win for Van Aert

    What a way to finish the stage that was. Wout van Aert had three second-places from the Tour before today, but now he has that win to go with his yellow jersey, after attacking on the final climb.

    Poor old Jasper Philipsen is probably regretting his celebration by now...

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  10. Jasper Philipsen wins the bunch sprint behind Van Aert - and he thinks he has won the stage. He'll soon find out what really happened.

  11. Wout van Aert wins stage four

    Wout van Aert punches the sky as he crosses the line. A superb victory.

  12. 1km to go

    This is incredible by Van Aert. A brilliant ride. That last climb was his chance and his plan worked to perfection. They are not going to catch him now...

  13. 2km to go

    Doesn't look like Wout van Aert will finish second today then... still work to do though!

    The gap is 20 seconds.

  14. 3km to go

    The gap is coming down but Wout van Aert is still 25 seconds clear. His team-mates are sitting at the front of the bunch, trying to slow everyone down.

  15. 4km to go

    Wout van Aert has won five stages at the Tour de France so far - two in 2020, and three last year - but attacking from the front to win in the Yellow Jersey would be something really special.

  16. 5km to go

    Van Aert is now 27 seconds clear, and his lead is getting bigger. The big hitters in the General Classification are together in a bunch behind him, but they are not looking like they are going to chase him down.

  17. 7.8km to go

    The cross tail-wind played absolute havoc there as it came in off the Channel. How are these teams chasing Van Aert going to organise themselves from here?

    The Belgian is now 18 seconds clear. It's pretty chaotic behind him.

  18. 9.8km to go

    Wout van Aert has gone out on his own. He's opened up an 11 second gap and is flying.

    The peloton has been scattered.

  19. 10.7km to go

    There are suddenly gaps all over the road. Geraint Thomas is up there near the front, but Wout van Aert is clear as they go up this final climb.

  20. 11km to go

    Jumbo-Visna also going hard.