12 p.m.: Cédric Vasseur anticipates an early breakaway, with a settlement between sprinters at the finish
“We know that there are difficult places in the races in the region, now we are in a Tour de France setting with a controlled race, the weather conditions are good, it’s true that the wind is blowing a little, there is a risk of having an influence when we are by the sea near Cap Blanc-Nez to go to Calais”, anticipates the manager of Cofidis.
As for the outcome of the race, “I think we are going to have a breakaway which will emerge quite early in the day, controlled by the sprinter teams, and then we should see a final packing”, predicts Cédric Vasseur . “Now, who knows if a man in the breakaway can’t resist the comeback, it’s a scenario that we would like with good riders,” he confides to us.
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11:15 am: Four days under high tension
Denmark in the back, the Tour de France peloton returns to France for a week feared by the leaders. The four stages to come, from Dunkirk on Tuesday to the Super Planche des Belles Filles on Friday, offer as many totally different playgrounds which should shake up the hierarchy. Because the courses have been designed by the organizers to wreak havoc in the race.
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10:45 am: Which are the youngest and oldest teams in the peloton?
With an average age of over 33, Israeli team Israel Premier Tech stands out as the most “experienced” of the peloton. Conversely, Romain Bardet, 31, is almost a veteran at DSM, just like Thibaut Pinot (32) at Groupama-FDJ. And, if Philippe Gilbert celebrates his 40th birthday on Tuesday, the average age of his team remains reasonable. Despite the presence of the veteran of the peloton among the eight riders selected for this Tour de France 2022, Lotto-Soudal ranks 13th among the oldest teams in the peloton (29.28 years on average).
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10:15 a.m.: Profile, timetables… everything you need to know about the 4th stage between Dunkirk and Calais
First opportunity for the punchers, the 4th stage of the Tour de France Tuesday visit the mountains of Flanders and Boulonnais, between Dunkirk and Calais, over a 171.5 kilometer long route. “The hills are not insurmountable,” said race director Thierry Gouvenou. “But the placement will be essential, because it is very often windy in Pas-de-Calais and the mountains of Flanders”.
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Six climbs, all classified in the fourth category, are staggered on the course, which follows the coastal layout for the last 25 kilometers. “We can expect a very dynamic final”, announces the race director before the arrival judged in the sub-prefecture of Pas-de-Calais where the sprinters can also aim for victory.
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10 a.m.: Welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the fourth stage (Dunkirk-Calais) of the 109th edition of the Tour de France!
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