Cycling: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) just won Stage 4 of the Dauphiné. After 176 km, as expected, there was a mass sprint, which the Norwegian champion won on the uphill home stretch ahead of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis). As a result, he also conquered the green jersey of the best points. Germany's John Degenkolb (Giant Alpecin) finished eighth. This was the last chance for the sprinters, because now three mountain stages follow. Chris Froome (Sky) was able to make up time today, because Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Richie Porte (BMC) lost nine seconds due to a tear in the peloton.
Bouet just missed the home win
Today's stage led the field over 176 km from Tain-l'Hermitage to Belley. It can safely be described as a flat stage, because the only two mountains belong to the 4th category and are already crossed in the first half of the race. As in the past few days, drivers pulled away very early on today's section. Bryan Nauleau (Direct Energie), Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Maxime Bouet (Etixx-Quick Step) made up the group of the day. Fanzose Bouet in particular has big plans today, as the winner of the day should be chosen in the town where he was born in 1986. Even if they were granted a lead of more than five minutes, it quickly became clear that today's task would be hopeless. No wonder, because it was the last chance for the sprinters. In the next three days, the focus will be on the climbers. Bouet attacked 20 km from the finish, first distancing himself from Nauleau and later from Veuchelen. 4 km before the finish his escape should be over and the expected mass sprint took place.
Finally another big win for Boasson Hagen
This mass sprint was mainly prepared by the teams Giant-Alpecin and Katusha, who wanted to push their top sprinters John Degenkolb and Alexander Kristoff to the top of the podium. The German grabbed the rear wheel from Greg van Avermaet (BMC) and was in a good starting position. Due to the slightly uphill home stretch, however, several people were hoping for a chance of victory, including Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data). The Norwegian was upwind early and behind him Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) was closing in on him, but Boasson Hagen took advantage of the slight incline and continued the sprint to the end. Alaphilippe was second, just ahead of Bouhanni, who had to hand over the green jersey for the best points to the day's winner. Boasson Hagen finally won a race on an important tour after a long dry spell. Most recently, he did so at the Dauphiné in 2013. Despite a good starting position, Degenkolb only finished eighth. Meanwhile, Chris Froome (Sky) was able to make up time on his opponents again. Although Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) remains in the leader's jersey, he and Richie Porte (BMC) lost nine seconds to Froome and Alaphilippe, who were able to move up to second and fourth place.
