Cycling: The fourth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné radiated tour feeling. The route from Montélimar to Gap led over 169 kilometers, where the Col de Manse stood in the way of the drivers just ten kilometers before the finish.
13 riders around the Belgian Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), who won the second stage of the Tour de France last year, were in the lead for large parts of the race. With 35 kilometers to go, the group was still more than four minutes ahead of the field around overall leader Chris Froome (Sky).
15 kilometers before the finish, the Russian Yuriy Trofimov (Katusha) escaped from the leading group. By the time he crossed the Col de Manse, he was twenty seconds ahead of his former comrades-in-arms. Behind them, 2:20 minutes behind, was a trio that had left the field led by Sky. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and Maxime Bouet (Ag2R-La Mondiale) gained a little more than ten seconds on the favorites until they were run over.
On the technically demanding descent to Gap, Trofimov was able to extend his lead over his pursuers. At the finish he was finally able to sit up and cheer. 23 seconds behind Trofimov, Gustav Erik Larsson (IAM) crossed the finish line in second, a few meters ahead of Pim Ligthart (Lotto Belisol).
Hesjedal, Van Garderen and Boueet managed to stay ahead of the field, which crossed the finish line just under two minutes behind. Froome remains in the overall leader's yellow jersey.