Last chance for the sprinters before three hard days in the mountains and they were NOT going to be denied this time – not even by a man racing on home roads!

Stage Four, Tain l’Hermitage to Belley, 176km

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) bossed the uphill drag to the line to nab both victory and the points jersey. French wonder kid Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx-Quick Step) edged out Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) into second with a magnificent bike throw on the line. Alberto Contador‘s lead was reduced to just 4secs over Chris Froome (Sky), after a crash in the final 3km caused a split in the peloton.

Highlights…

Quickstepper Maxime Bouet raced into the town of his birth. He made the break and tried a solo attack at the end, but it wasn’t to be. Such panache deserves to be celebrated.

Here’s a very proud grandfather…

Finish line agony…

Soaking up the warmth of his fans… Bravo Maxime!

Links: Official site for the Criterium du Dauphine , Twitter

Featured Image: Edvald BH resplendent in the green points jersey – © ASO/A.Broadway