Remco Evenepoel remains in white with two stages left before the first rest day.
The Tour de France returned to Laval – where current Soudal Quick-Step sports director won a bunch sprint in 1999 – but the outcome was different this time, as Tim Merlier couldn’t contest the uphill bunch sprint in the charming city located in the Pays de la Loire region.
Completely flat, with the exception of a small classified climb in the final part, the stage was a quiet one, animated by a late two-man breakaway that took off around 60 kilometers from the line and remained off the front until the closing ten kilometers. Tim Merlier started the day as one of the main favourites, especially after his win on the third stage, but the European Champion’s plans were derailed by a puncture with 12 kilometers to go, which required him to change the bike.
Merlier had to chase hard in order to come back to the peloton, and that effort took its toll as the speed increased in the bunch on the uphill finish in Laval. The Belgian couldn’t contest the sprint, won by Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and came home a couple of seconds later. His Soudal Quick-Step teammate Remco Evenepoel concluded with the group and kept hold of the white jersey, at the same time, remaining in second place overall.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
