Marcel Kittel came out on top in Stage 4 of the 2016 Tour de France, the longest stage of the 103rd edition of the race. Here’s today’s news, notes and quotes.
Kittel surpasses Rudi Altig
Kittel was led out by Tour de Suisse points jersey winner Maximiliano Richeze, opening his sprint with 300 meters left and taking center road, charging towards the line. Powering on the uphill drag, the 28-year-old hold off all his opponents, including Coquard, for one of the smallest winning margins seen by the Tour de France in recent history.
“It wasn’t easy for the team and me after the last three days. The ambitions and expectations were high and the pressure was there, especially after getting so many wins in the first part of the season. Yesterday, after the stage, we analysed the finale, talked about our mistakes in a positive way and everyone learned from it. I tried to motivate the boys and today they did a marvelous job. We were there when it mattered, I was brought up in the right position and had a perfect timing”, said Marcel Kittel, who now has 14 Grand Tour victories to his name.
By coming out on top on Tuesday, Marcel Kittel surpassed legendary countryman Rudi Altig in most Tour de France stage victories for Germany, sitting now in third overall in an all-time ranking with 9 successes, and also became the first rider to get wins in two Grand Tours this season, after sprinting to victory in the Nijmegen and Arnhem Giro d’Italia stages: “I am super happy and it’s great to return to the Tour de France with such a victory. I knew since yesterday that my legs are strong and wanted to win for the team, who was really incredible. We still have some opportunities ahead in the race, but first we want to enjoy this day.”
Sagan Extends Lead, Retakes Green
Having contested the for the win in every one of the Tour’s stages so far, Peter Sagan, in the yellow jersey of race leader, went for it again today. After a hard-fought finish, which came at the end of the race’s longest stage, the UCI World Champion came from behind to power past rivals and take third in the day’s sprint. At the end of the day, Peter extends his lead in the yellow and snatches back the green jersey of points leader.
After receiving another set of yellow and green jerseys for his collection, Peter said: “It was a long day, not flat always up and down. I’m very happy to still be in yellow and to take third. I’m back in green also and until now all’s going very well.” When asked about making Slovakia proud, Peter added: “I think the Slovakians here are very happy and it makes me happy to see lots of Slovakian flags on the side of the road and to hear them cheering.”
Happy with his third place, Peter was already looking at his performance and working out where he could improve – the mark of a true champion. “It was a good finish for me, I just started my sprint too early. The sprint is sometimes a lottery and I think I have to wait a little bit more. I started at the same time as Kittel and it was a long sprint from there. Coquard came later and he almost won. I’m happy with the result and the points, and I still have the yellow jersey – it’s going well. Tomorrow is another day, I don’t want to think about tomorrow yet.”
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