Stage 4 of the 104th Tour de France will once again be a sprinter-friendly route, as the peloton travels from the town of Mondorf-les-Bains in southeastern Luxembourg to the French commune of Vittel.
The route will take the riders over 207 kilometers through mostly flat countryside, with long, gradual climbs dotted throughout the course.
The riders will only face a single categorized climb on Stage 4, which will be a category 4 climb up the Col des Trois Fontaines at the 170.5 km mark. There is also an intermediate sprint up for grabs in Goviller at the 157.5 km, at which it should be expected to see multiple riders from the Pro Continental squads, which includes Team Cofidis, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Fortuneo-Oscaro, and Direct Energie, as well a few riders from the World Tour teams. As we have seen during the first three stages, it is advantageous for the Pro Continental squads to send riders into the breakaway, as it gives them a shot at intermediate sprint and mountain classification points, possible stage victories, and TV time for their sponsors.
Stage 3 was another long route, filled with steep, punchy climbs, which ended with Bora-Hangrohe's Peter Sagan taking the stage victory ahead of Team Sunweb's Michael Matthews and Quick-Step Floors' Dan Martin. While Sagan will undoubtedly be tired after over five hours in the saddle and a 5.8% grade, 1.6 kilometer sprint finish at the end of Stage 3, the Slovakian rider has shown his elite racing caliber and could position himself to capture Stage 4 as well.
Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) will also be intent on capturing another sprinter-friendly stage, after his victory in Liege. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) is another one to watch, as the French rider sits in second currently in the points classification, and should be eager to capture a stage that suits his sprinting abilities.
There has not been much talk surrounding Lotto Soudal's Andre Greipel early in the Tour this year, but Stage 4 sets up perfectly for the powerful German veteran. Lotto Soudal do not currently have any riders in the general classification hunt, and Greipel is the centerpiece to the squad. Stage 4's profile will suit Greipel, who is consistent on flat and hilly stages. If his teammates will be able to set him up with a good lead out and position Greipel well for the finish, he no doubt has the capabilities to beat out the field on a straightaway sprint.
Nacer Bouhani (Team Cofidis), Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL-Jumbo), Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), and Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) are also riders worth watching as the stage unfolds.
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