Tadej Pogačar Takes Victory and Recaptures the Yellow Jersey on a High Altitude Stage 4 of the 2024 Tour de France

The day was clear and warm for riders as they set off from Pinerolo, Italy, headed for their finish on a steep climbing day which would finish in the French alpine village of Valloire. The mountainous stage, at 139.6 km in length and 3,600 meters of climbing, would be the first highlight day for general classification overall race winner contenders to establish themselves for this years edition of the Tour de France.

The ascent to the top of the Col du Galibier began at the 41 km mark from the finish, serving as the major inflectoin point on the day. Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) broke away from the peloton, riding off the front. Politt was able to stay strong for a serious period of time on the stage, trying to carry out a heroic effort to hold off the pack. However, the peloton was able to quickly make up time and catch Politt 34 km from the finish.

On the ascent up the Col du Galibier with 20 km to the finish, a group held off on the front, which included Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike), and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step), as well as contained a group of UAE riders to assist Pogačar. Richard Carapaz (EF Education–EasyPost), who began Stage 3 with the Maillot Jaune as general classification leader of the race, was dropped by this point, unable to keep pace with the pack at the front of the race.

The first to summit the Col du Galibier would gain an additional 8 second time bonus, while second place got 5 additional seconds and third place received 2 additional seconds meaning the lead pack was pushing hard. Tadej Pogačar was took off with 800 meters to the summit of the Col du Galibier looking to crack Jonas Vingegaard, who tried to maintain his tempo. Pogačar summited first, gaining the largest time bonus on the Col du Galibier, while Vingegaard followed in second and Evenepoel arrived in third.

From there, the riders began the 19 km long descent to Valloire. The descent to Valloire would require tight aerodynamics and good bike handling skills on the sweeping switchbacks chicaning to the valley.

With 13 km to go to the finish, Pogačar held a 12 second lead on Vingegaard and a 32 second lead on the chasing Evenepoel. Pogačar continue to separate himself from the chasing riders, pushing hard to the finish line to capture as many additional seconds as possible. 

A group of 5 arrived at the line behind Pogačar, with Remco Evenopoel at the front of the chase pack finishing in second place and 35 seconds behind Pogačar. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates), Primož Roglič (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe), Jonas Vingegaard and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) rounded out this group. Vingegaard finished 37 seconds behind Pogačar.

Pogačar was able to recapture the Maillot Jaune after an impressive Stage 4 performance at the 2024 Tour de France, assisted by a UAE Team Emirates team which looks strong. 

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) will retain both the points classification lead and the King of the Mountains lead, while Remco Evenepoel remains the leader in the Top Young Rider classification. The top of the team classification board is UAE Team Emirates after a good showing overall on Stage 4.

Stage 5 of the 2024 Tour de France will feature a sprinter-friendly route covering 177.4 km from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas.