Pedersen wins stage 4 as Træen takes yellow

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) took a commanding victory on stage 4 of the Tour de France 2026, launching a powerful, long-range sprint from a reduced breakaway. Forced to open his effort from 250 metres out, the Dane proved untouchable, finishing well clear of his teammate Quinn Simmons and Raúl García (Movistar Team).

The day's major narrative shift came in the general classification. Breakaway rider Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility) finished eighth on the stage, gaining enough time to take the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), whose team did not contest the stage.

The hilly stage was defined by a large breakaway that built a significant advantage, setting the stage for a dual battle for the stage win and the maillot jaune.

The hilly 175 km route invited a strong breakaway, and a large group soon formed. It contained several powerful riders including Mads Pedersen and his Lidl-Trek teammates Quinn Simmons and Mathias Vacek, plus the eventual yellow jersey Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility). The peloton allowed the gap to grow, ceding control of the stage.

With the breakaway's advantage decisive, Træen became the virtual yellow jersey on the road. This sparked a flurry of attacks inside the front group, particularly from Pablo Castrillo (Movistar Team), who repeatedly tried to splinter the selection in the final 40 km.

Lidl-Trek expertly marshalled the finale, using Vacek and Simmons to shut down moves from Castrillo and Marco Frigo (NSN Cycling Team). In the final kilometre, an aggressive line through the last corner forced Pedersen to launch his sprint from 250 metres out. The Dane's power was overwhelming, and he crossed the line with time to celebrate as the peloton finished over two minutes later, confirming Træen as the new race leader.

• Lidl-Trek played their numerical advantage to perfection. With three riders in the final group, they could cover every attack without forcing Mads Pedersen to waste energy. Mathias Vacek and Quinn Simmons provided the perfect platform for their leader to unleash his devastating sprint.
• Torstein Træen's move into yellow is a massive result for Uno-X Mobility. The Norwegian rider rode intelligently in the break, not over-committing to attacks but ensuring he was in the right place to secure a career-defining jersey for himself and his ProTeam.
• UAE Team Emirates-XRG showed they were more than happy to let the yellow jersey go. By not chasing the breakaway, they relieve themselves of the pressure and workload of defending the lead in a tricky first week, saving energy for the major mountain stages to come.
• Movistar Team's aggressive tactics with Pablo Castrillo were commendable but ultimately fruitless against the strength of Lidl-Trek. While they made the finale exciting, they lacked the final punch needed to dislodge Pedersen.
• Pedersen's victory confirms his status as one of the most versatile and powerful riders in the peloton. Winning from a breakaway on a hilly stage, after being forced into a long sprint, showcases a depth of talent beyond that of a pure sprinter.