Germany’s Marcel Kittel notched up his ninth career Tour de France stage win when he won the fourth stage of this year’s race in a photo finish in Limoges today.
Germany’s Marcel Kittel sprinting over the 2016 Tour de France finish line in Limoges today. Photo: SuperSport
The Etixx-Quick-Step rider beat France’s Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) and yellow jersey wearer Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) to the line in 5:28:30 after 237.5km of racing from Saumur.
The Slovak, who won the second stage, increased his overall lead to 12 seconds over Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick-Step) and 14 over Spain’s Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
Marcel Kittel after the fourth stage of the 2016 Tour de France. Photo: SuperSport
“I’m very emotional right now. It feels like my first stage win again and I’m super happy,” said Kittel.
“I’m very proud because the team was really fighting for this win.
“Some things went wrong over the past days and I’m happy to be back in the tour and win a stage like this, especially with this uphill. I can’t believe it.”
Stage four results
1. Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step) 5:28:30
2. Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie)
3. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Team)
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Team LottoNl-Jumbo)
5. Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha)
6. Sondre Holst Enger (IAM Cycling)
7. Daniel Mclay (Fortuneo – Vital Concept)
8. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data)
9. Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R La Mondiale)
10. Simon Gerrans (Orica-BikeExchange)
Selected
48. Louis Meintjes (Lampre – Merida)
115. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +32
124. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +57
General classification
1. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 20:03:02
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx – Quick-Step) +12
3. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +14
4. Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) +18
5. Simon Gerrans (Orica-BikeExchange)
6. Lawson Craddock (Cannondale-Drapac) +35
7. Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R La Mondiale) +59
8. Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) +15
9. Sondre Holst Enger (IAM Cycling) +1:40
10. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) +1:43
Selected
30. Louis Meintjes (Lampre – Merida) +29
93. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +4:11
100. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +4:59
Points classification
1. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 147 points
2. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 142
3. Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step) 137
King of the Mountains
1. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) 4 points
2. Paul Voss (Bora-Argon 18) 2
3. Armindo Fonseca (Fortuneo – Vital Concept) 1
See Tour de France for more news, results and photos.
