The Tour's longest stage just gave us the smallest of winning margins.
Cocqard did everything to his bike to get it over the line ahead of everyone else but in the end the straightlinevpowet of the big German Marcel Kittel could not be overcome. A perfect throw helped, too.
The overhead replay is well worth watching.
Kittel's lead out (Iljo Keisse) gives a good account of some of the complexities in the finale:
"First of all, it started with a little uphill before, where Marcel and I kind of lost a few places, we kind of lost train and had to fight for 5-6km to get back into position. In the end everything came back together. It was me and Marcel, then Max and Sabatini came all in the last kilometer, perfect timing, a little bit lucky but I guess that's what you need.
"I saw it was really close but we're really happy to have won today. And now the pressure can go a little bit because we started well with two second places, but we needed victories.
"It was the same yesterday, you have a small descent then a climb. Always the teams from behind are coming. It's very difficult in the front to keep the front, and if you are in the back you have to avoid the guys going backwards. It was difficult but it all worked out very well today."
Griepel seemed to abandon the sprint early despite an excellent setup from his team. It was as if he blew a piston just as he was firing up, like drag cars sometimes do. I'm keen to read the quotes on this when they come through.
Shaz will not be so concerned of The Gorilla's no show. She was the main beneficiary of Kittel's blietzrieg to the line...
7 Prizes for Stage 4 Rider Owner
Winner of Stage $12.00 180 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Shaz
Yellow Jersey $7.50 32 Peter Sagan (Svk) Glenn
Green Jersey $7.50 32 Peter Sagan (Svk) Glenn
Polka Dot Jersey $7.50 67 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Prowster
White Jersey $7.50 181 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Simmsy
Most Combative Rider $3.00 78 Oliver Naesen (Bel) Ronaldo
Lanterne Rouge $2.50 146 Michael Mørkøv (Den) Pinkers
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