The Inner Ring | Aura Tour Stage 4 Preview: Sprint or Breakaway?
The stage 4 of the Aura Tour promises an intriguing contest between sprinters and breakaway specialists. With a 165km route featuring 2,250m of vertical gain, the stage is designed to favor both the fast-finishing bunch and those who can navigate the hilly terrain. The finish, a long, flat road with no corners or junctions in the final 5km, presents an opportunity for a sprint finish, but the presence of urban street furniture and traffic calming dividers adds a layer of complexity.
Netcompany-Ineos, the Dutch team, faced a challenging day, losing Ben Tullet to a puncture and Wout van Aert, who was meant to deliver a lead-out up the final climb, with 8km to go. The team's performance was further impacted by dropped riders, including Sam Watson and Oscar Onley, which ultimately cost them the stage win. If they had continued without stopping, they could have secured the victory and had Kévin Vauquelin in the yellow jersey. The team's performance raises questions about their strategy and decision-making.
One of the surprises of the day was EF's third-place finish, which kept Alex Baudin in the yellow jersey by 12 seconds. Their result is all the more impressive considering the previous day's efforts. UAE finished in ninth place, a minute down, with both the position and time gaps widening. Lidl-Trek and Decathlon CMA-CGM also lost significant time, 32 seconds and 42 seconds, respectively.
The stage witnessed a lot of team shedding, with riders dropping out due to various issues. Netcompany-Ineos' confusion was evident, as was Wout van Aert's early drop and Stefan Bissegger's for Decathlon. The route's challenging nature, with its forested hilly roads and 50km of descent and flat terrain, made it a spectacle to watch.
The contenders for the stage win are a mix of sprinters and breakaway specialists. Dorian Godon (Netcompany), Wout van Aert (Visma-LAB), Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE), and Michael Matthews (Jayco) are all potential winners, but their form and strategies differ. Hugo Hoffstetter (NSN), Matthew Fox (Lotto-Intermarché), and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain) are sprinters with rare wins, while Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Valentin Ferron (Cofidis) are quick but not frequent winners. Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché), Ivan Romeo (Movistar), and Matteo Trentin (Tudor) are breakaway specialists who can excel on this terrain.
The weather forecast, with some rain clearing to leave dry roads and temperatures at 20°C, adds an element of unpredictability. The TV coverage, with KM0 at 1.15pm and the finish at 5.00pm, will provide a detailed look at the stage's unfolding drama.
Montrond-les-Bains, a location familiar to the Dauphiné, has seen the race return to this area over the years. The stage's route, including the 23km stretch through Mornand-en-Forez, has been part of the race's itinerary in recent years. The finish, just as in 2022, is a preview of the Tour's future, with the Dauphiné heading to the Plateau de Solaison on Sunday, just as it did in 2022, and the Tour following suit in July.
The stage 4 preview highlights the strategic choices and challenges faced by teams and riders. The question of whether to sprint or break away remains open, with the stage's unpredictable nature and the presence of both sprinters and breakaway specialists adding to the excitement. The outcome will be determined by the riders' skills, tactics, and the ever-changing dynamics of the race.
