With seven cobblestone sectuers, Stage 4 of the 2015 Tour de France was expected to the most treacherous of the race, but it proved uneventful barring a brave attack by Tony Martin in the final kilometers that ultimately lead to victory and the yellow jersey.
Martin, riding for the Etixx-Quickstep team, attacked the peloton with a little over 2km to go, leaving race leaders and the sprint teams seemingly stunned and unable to react.
Martin, who was one second behind race leader Chris Froome, was given free reign to sprint as he is not expected to be a contender for the general classification.
John Degenkolb, whose ability over cobblestones helped him win the Paris-Roubaix this year, won the sprint for second place ahead of Peter Sagan.
Stage 4 Brief Results:
- Tony Martin (Germany / Etixx – Quick-Step) 5:28:58″
- John Degenkolb (Germany / Giant) +3″
- Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Tinkoff – Saxo)
- Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing)
- Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Team MTN)
- Nacer Bouhanni (France / Cofidis)
- Jacopo Guarnieri (Italy / Katusha)
- Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto)
- Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Etixx – Quick-Step)
- Bryan Coquard (France / Europcar)
General Classification After Stage 4:
- Tony Martin (Germany / Etixx – Quick-Step) 12:40:26″
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) +12″
- Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +25″
- Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto) +38″
- Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Tinkoff – Saxo) +39″
- Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing) +40″
- Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Etixx – Quick-Step) +46″
- Alberto Contador (Spain / Tinkoff – Saxo) +48″
- Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) +1:15″
- Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Etixx – Quick-Step) +1:16″
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