tour de france 94

1994 Tour de France

81st edition: july 2 - july 24, 1994, results, stage details, map, photos and narrative history.

1993 Tour | 1995 Tour | Tour de France Database | 1994 Tour Quick Facts | 1994 Tour Final GC | Stage results with running GC | The Story of the 1994 Tour de France

Map of the 1994 Tour de France. The race began in Lille.

Les Woodland's book Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Story - all the bumps of cycling's cobbled classic is available as an audiobook here .

1994 Tour de France quick facts

The 1994 Tour had 21 stages plus a prologue that totaled 3,978.2 kilometers.

It was ridden at an average speed of 38.383 km/hr.

Two stages (4 & 5) were held in England.

189 riders started and there were 117 classified finishers.

This was Miguel Indurain's fourth consecutive Tour victory.

The Spaniard won the 1994 Tour with a singular dominance that made clear his superiority over the rest of the professional peloton, despite his third place in May's Giro d'Italia.

From the prologue time trial on, he was always the most highly placed rider among the serious contenders.

1994 Tour de France complete final General Classification:

• Piotr Ugramov (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 5min 39sec
• Marco Pantani (Carrera) @ 7min 19sec
• Luc Leblanc (Festina) @ 10min 3sec
• Richard Virenque (Festina) @ 10min 10sec
• Roberto Conti (Lampre) @ 12min 29sec
• Alberto Elli (GB-MG) @ 20min 17sec
• Alex Zulle (ONCE) @ 20min 35sec
• Udo Bolts (Telekom) @ 25min 19sec
• Vladimir Poulnikov (Carrera) @ 25min 28sec
• Pascal Lino (Festina) @ 30min 1sec
• Fernando Escartin (Mapei) @ 30min 38sec
• Gianluca Bortolami (Mapei) @ 32min 35sec
• Bjarne Riis (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 33min 32sec
• Oscar Pellicoli (Polti) @ 34min 55sec
• Nelson Rodriguez (ZG-Mobili) @ 35min 18sec
• Jean-François Bernard (Banesto) @ 36min 44sec
• Hernan Buenahora (Kelme) @ 38min
• Rolf Sorensen (GB-MG) @ 42min 39sec
• Bo Hamburger (TVM) @ 43min 44sec
• Thomas Davy (Castorama) @ 46min 41sec
• Eric Caritoux (Chazal) @ 47min 19sec
• Federico Muñoz (Kelme) @ 48min 33sec
• Jim Van De Laer (Lotto) @ 48min 35sec
• Bruno Cenghialta (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 51min 30sec
• Charly Mottet (Novemail) @ 51min 44sec
• Beat Zberg (Carrera) @ 57min 6sec
• Gerd Audehm (Telekom) @ 57min 44sec
• Erik Breukink (ONCE) @ 59min 55sec
• Abraham Olano (Mapei) @ 1hr 1min 29sec
• Alvaro Mejia (Motorola) @ 1hr 1min 43sec
• Ramon Gonzalez (Banesto) @ 1hr 2min 40sec
• Pascal Hervé (Festina) @ 1hr 7min 16sec
• Federico Echave (Mapei) @ 1hr 7min 16sec
• Laurent Dufaux (ONCE) @ 1hr 9min 30sec
• Viatcheslav Ekimov (Wordperfect) @ 1hr 9min 50sec
• Franco Vona (GB-MG) @ 1hr 10min 41sec
• Rolf Aldag (Telekom) @ 1hr 10min 59sec
• Enrico Zaina (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 1hr 12min 16sec
• Arsenio Gonzalez (Mapei) @ 1hr 12min 41sec
• Flavio Vanzella (GB-MG) @ 1hr 24min 5sec
• Franco Chioccioli (Mercatone Uno) @ 1hr 26min 52sec
• François Simon (Castorama) @ 1hr 30min 50sec
• Arturas Kaputis (Chazal) @ 1hr 37min 46sec
• Jesper Skibby (TVM) @ 1hr 41min 21sec
• Davide Perona (ZG Mobili) @ 1hr 43min 5sec
• Jean-Claude Bagot (Festina) @ 1hr 44min 6sec
• Miguel Arroyo (Chazal) @ 1hr 44min 11sec
• José Ramon Uriarte (Banesto) @ 1hr 44min 51sec
• Dag Otto Lauritzen (TVM) @ 1hr 45min 54sec
• Eddy Seigneur (Gan) @ 1hr 47min 15sec
• Neil Stephens (ONCE) @ 1hr 47min 59sec
• Thierry Marie (Castorama) @ 1hr 48min 47sec
• Giancarlo Perini (ZG Mobili) @ 1hr 50min 7sec
• Angel Yesid Camargo (Kelme) @ 1hr 50min 8sec
• Gerard Rué (Banesto) @ 1hr 51min 28sec
• Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (Polti) @ 1hr 51min 34sec
• Giorgio Furlan (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 1hr 52min 19sec
• Jörg Müller (Mapei) @ 1hr 52min 19sec
• Jens Heppner (Telekom) @ 1hr 53min 46sec
• Andrea Peron (Polti) @ 1hr 53min 47sec
• Vlasislav Bobrik (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 1hr 55min 12sec
• Serhiy Utchakov (Polti) @ 1hr 57min 31sec
• Christophe Manin (Chazal) @ 1hr 58min 2sec
• Mauro-Antonio Santaromita (ZG Mobili) @ 1hr 58min 9sec
• Ronan Pensec (Novemail) @ 1hr 59min 2sec
• Vicente Aparicio (Banesto) @ 1hr 59min 34sec
• Luc Roosen (Lotto) @ 2hr 0min 43sec
• Phil Anderson (Motorola) @ 2hr 1min 13sec
• Raúl Alcala (Motorola) @ 2hr 4min 41sec
• Sean Yates (Motorola) @ 2hr 4min 45sec
• Dimitri Zhdanov (Polti) @ 2hr 8min 20sec
• Rolf Järmann (GB-MG) @ 2hr 10min 46sec
• Philippe Louviot (Novemail) @ 2hr 12min 10sec
• Massimo Ghirotto (ZG Mobili) @ 2hr 12min 49sec
• Carlo Bomans (GB-MG) @ 2hr 12min 55sec
• Gerrit de Vries (Novemail) @ 2hr 14min 53sec
• Thierry Gouvenou (Gan) @ 2hr 15min 23sec
• Atle Kvalsvoll (Wordperfect) @ 2hr 15min 23sec
• Johan Museeuw (GB-MG) @ 2hr 17min 26sec
• Pascal Chanteur (Chazal) @ 2hr 17min 36sec
• Peter De Clercq (Lotto) @ 2hr 21min 43sec
• Stephen Hodge (Festina) @ 2hr 23min 50sec
• Uwe Raab (Telekom) @ 2hr 24min 38sec
• Julio César Cadena (Kelme) @ 2hr 24min 52sec
• Marco Zen (Lampre) @ 2hr 25min 13sec
• Francisco Cabello (Kelme) @ 2hr 25min 35sec
• Guy Nulens (Novemail) @ 2hr 25min 52sec
• Frankie Andreu (Motorola) @ 2hr 26min 24sec
• Guido Bontempi (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 2hr 26min 27sec
• Bruno Thibout (Castorama) @ 2hr 26min 42sec
• Marc Wauters (Wordperfect) @ 2hr 28min 38sec
• Hendrik Redant (ZG Mobili) @ 2hr 28min 57sec
• Silvio Martinello (Mercatone Uno) @ 2hr 29min 4sec
• Melchior Mauri (Banesto) @ 2hr 30min 20sec
• Ángel Edo (Kelme) @ 2hr 31min 1sec
• Mario Kummer (Telekom) @ 2hr 31min 42sec
• Rudy Verdonck (Lotto) @ 2hr 32min 24sec
• Erwin Nijboer (Banesto) @ 2hr 34min 27sec
• Cezary Zamana (Kelme) @ 2hr 34min 43sec
• Erik Dekker (Wordperfect) @ 2hr 34min 52sec
• Alberto Leanizbarrutia (ONCE) @ 2hr 36min 5sec
• Jan Svorada (Lampre) @ 2hr 36min 25sec
• Michel Dernies (Motorola) @ 2hr 36min 31sec
• Olaf Ludwig (Telekom) @ 2hr 37min 37sec
• Christian Henn (Telekom) @ 2hr 37min 48sec
• Dario Bottaro (Gewiss-Ballan) @ 2hr 39min 17sec
• Davide Cassani (GB-MG) @ 2hr 41min 32sec
• Herminio Diaz (ONCE) @ 2hr 42min 6sec
• Giovanni Fidanza (Polti) @ 2hr 42min 47sec
• Remi Rossi (Carrera) @ 2hr 43min 51sec
• Stephen Swart (Motorola) @ 2hr 44min 38sec
• Francis Moreau (Gan) @ 2hr 51min 13sec
• Mario Chiesa (Carrera) @ 2hr 52min 2sec
• Eros Poli (Mercatone Uno) @ 2hr 52min 41sec
• Rob Mulders (Wordperfect) @ 3hr 8min 32sec
• John Talen (Mercatone Uno) @ 3hr 39min 3sec

Climbers Competition:

Points Competition:

Team Classification:

• Festina: 311hr 28min 53sec
• Gewiss-Ballan @ 42min 57sec
• Mapei @ 44min 38sec
• Marco Pantani (Carrera) 103hr 45min 57sec
• Richard Virenque (Festina) @ 2min 51sec
• Bo Hamburger (TVM) @ 36min 25sec

Content continues below the ads

1994 Tour de France stages and results with running GC

Prologue: Saturday, July 2, Lille 7.2 km Individual Time Trial. Stage and GC places and times are the same.

Stage 1: Sunday, July 3, Lille - Armentières, 234 km

GC after Stage 1:

Stage 2: Monday, July 4, Roubaix - Boulogne Sur Mer, 203.5 km

GC after Stage 2:

Stage 3: Tuesday, July 5, Calais - Eurotunnel 66.5 km Team Time Trial. Riders got their team's real GC times, but rules limited a rider's time loss to 5 minutes.

GC after Stage 3:

Stage 4: Wednesday, July 6, Dover - Brighton, 204.5 km

GC after Stage 4:

Stage 5: Thursday, July 7, Portsmouth - Portsmouth, 187 km

GC after stage 5:

Stage 6: Friday, July 8, Cherbourg - Rennes, 270.5 km

GC after Stage 6:

Stage 7: Saturday, July 9, Rennes - Futuroscope, 259.5 km

GC after Stage 7:

Stage 8: Sunday, July 10, Poitiers - Trélissac, 218.5 km

GC after Stage 8:

Stage 9: Monday, July 11, Périgueux - Bergerac 64 km Individual Time Trial

GC after stage 9:

Stage 10: Tuesday, July 12, Bergerac - Cahors, 160.5 km

GC after Stage 10:

Stage 11: Wednesday, July 13, Cahors - Lourdes (Hautacam), 263.5 km

GC after Stage 11:

Stage 12: Friday, July 15, Lourdes - Luz Ardiden, 204.5 km

GC after Stage 12:

Stage 13: Saturday, July 16, Bagnères de Bigorre - Albi, 223 km

Tony Rominger abandoned.

GC after Stage 13:

Stage 14: Sunday, July 17, Castres - Montpellier, 202 km

GC after Stage 14:

Stage 15: Monday, July 18, Montpellier - Carpentras, 231 km

GC after Stage 15:

Stage 16: Tuesday, July 19, Valréas - L'Alpe d'Huez, 224.5 km

GC after Stage 16:

Stage 17: Wednesday, July 20, Bourg d'Oisans - Val Thorens, 149 km.

GC after Stage 17

Stage 18: Thursday, July 21, Moutiers - Cluses, 174.5 km

GC after Stage 18:

Stage 19: Friday, July 22, Cluses - Morzine Avoriaz 47.5 km Individual Time Trial.

GC after stage 19:

Stage 20: Saturday, July 23, Morzine - Lac St. Point, 208.5 km

GC after Stage 20:

21st and final stage: Sunday, July 24, Disneyland Paris- Paris (Champs Elysées), 175 km

Complete Final 1994 Tour de France General Classification

The Story of the 1994 Tour de France:

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Tour de France", Volume 2. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print, eBook or audiobook. The Amazon link here will make the purchase easy.

In the 1994 Giro d'Italia, cracks in the impenetrable wall of Indurain's invulnerability started to show. Or at least seemed to. There were 3 time trials and Indurain did not win any of them. In the stage 1b 7-kilometer individual time trial, eventual Giro winner Evgeni Berzin beat Indurain by 3 seconds. Stage 8 was a fairer contest at 44 kilometers. This time Berzin beat the Spaniard by 2 minutes, 34 seconds. In the final time trial, stage 18, Berzin was 20 seconds faster over the 35 kilometers. Counting the final time trial in the 1993 Tour de France, this made 4 successive time trial losses for Indurain.

Moreover, Marco Pantani, a true pure climber, was able to get away on 2 consecutive days and gain enough time on Indurain to finish ahead of him in the General Classification. This put a dagger in the heart of the Indurain strategy: contain the climbers in the hills, letting them gain only insignificant amounts of time. Then, as Frankie Andreu said, kill them in the time trial. In the 1994 Giro, he could do neither.

The final podium for the 1994 Giro:

Was this a portent for the Tour or just a careful training ride crafted so that Indurain would not be too tired to contest the final days of the Tour? In the 1993 Tour he ran out of gas. He was not the "extra-terrestrial" he had been called. He was instead, just a gifted athlete at the top of his game.

Owen Mulholland has noted that this Tour had a particularly large crop of good climbers. Given Indurain's past inability to ride in the mountains with the very best mountain goats, riders such as Richard Virenque, Marco Pantani and Piotr Ugrumov were eagerly looking forward to contesting the Tour.

The Tour's 7.2-kilometer prologue in Lille was Chris Boardman's first day in his first Tour de France. What a spectacular result for him when he won the prologue, beating Indurain by 15 seconds and Rominger by 19. He was now the Yellow Jersey, the first Englishman to own it since Tommy Simpson, 32 years before. Simpson's last day in Yellow was 4 years before Boardman was born.

The next day, a 234-kilometer sprinter's stage from Lille to Armentieres, saw one of the most spectacular crashes in Tour history. A policeman leaned out into the road to take a picture of the final sprint. Wilfried Nelissen slammed into him, breaking his collarbone and taking down Laurent Jalabert. Jalabert, who had won 7 stages and the points competition in the Vuelta earlier that year, was looking forward to repeating the process in his home country. Instead, after receiving terrible wounds to his face, he was taken to the hospital. Jalabert said that the crash changed his way of riding. Apparently under pressure from his devoted wife, Sylvie, for the remainder of his career he no longer sought out the dangerous bunch sprints. Marguerite Lazell says that although Nelissen returned to racing, he was never again the racer he was before that crash.

Boardman was able to keep his Yellow Jersey until the stage 3 team time trial, 66.5 kilometers contested at Calais. MG-GB won the stage with Motorola just missing the win by 6 seconds. That must have deeply pained the team's manager Jim Ochowicz, who had dreamed of winning this event for years.

The MG-GB win gave Johan Museeuw the lead. Boardman, desperate to get the Yellow Jersey back for the next day's stage in England had hammered his team. Being a fairly inexperienced professional with extraordinary power (he had only turned pro in August 1993), he, as Armstrong did in his early team time trials, took such hard pulls that his teammates struggled to stay with him. I remember watching this stage on TV, yelling at Boardman on the television screen to take slower, longer pulls. Didn't do any good.

The Tour made another crossing of the English Channel, the first time since that less than successful journey in 1974. Back in 1974, the crowds were sparse and the racing was uninteresting, being held on an unopened expressway. This time, with 2 stages in England, the crowds were huge and the racers rode as if it was the Tour de France. Boardman did manage a fourth place in 1 of the stages, but he had lost too much time (1 minute, 17 seconds) in the team time trial to get back in Yellow. Ironically, Sean Yates, also a British rider, donned the Yellow Jersey on the Tour's first day back in France.

The Tour really started on stage 9, a 64-kilometer individual time trial. Was Indurain faltering? Was his Giro performance a guide to his Tour? Look at the times.

With the exception of Rominger, Indurain had humiliated the field. Boardman was the reigning Olympic Pursuit Champion and would go on that year to become the World Time Trial Champion. For all of his ability, he was over 5 minutes slower than Indurain. Almost half the field finished over 12 minutes behind than the Spaniard. The General Classification after the time trial:

The time gaps were already beyond what could ever be recaptured from an in-form Indurain unless misfortune took him down.

Stage 11 would reveal all with its new climb up the Hautacam to Lourdes. Different measurements rate the climb slightly differently. Some call it a 17.3 kilometer climb with 1,170 meters of elevation gain and an average gradient of 6.8%. Others start the true climb further up the road and make it a 13.6 kilometer run up 1,000 meters of elevation gain. Either way, it's rated hors category and has a patch in the center that's 10% before relaxing to a leg-breaking 8%+ gradient. This is what the small, specialist climbers live for with their high power-to-weight ratio. Indurain may kill them in the time trials, but this was a chance to take the time back.

The first to take off up the mountain was Marco Pantani, second in the Giro earlier this year. Jean-François Bernard, who a few years earlier had been expected to inherit the mantle of Bernard Hinault as France's and the world's next great stage racer, was riding as a domestique for Indurain. Maybe he wasn't Hinault, but Bernard set a fiery pace up the Hautacam that shed most of the peloton. Halfway up the mountain, exhausted, he pulled off to let Indurain and the others take over. In past years Indurain would not let his climbing domestiques go all out in the high mountains because he couldn't match their pace. This year he could take what they could dish out and still be ready to hand out heaping helpings of suffering to those still on his wheel.

Indurain took over from Bernard and rode in his steady, smooth style with a high cadence that was so surprising in such a large man. He was finally left with only 2 riders, both Frenchmen. Luc Leblanc and Richard Virenque were the only men who could match Indurain that day. Then, after another couple of kilometers even Virenque couldn't take it. It was down to Leblanc and Indurain. The duo caught and passed Pantani. Leblanc tried to shed Indurain but could only gain a temporary gap that Indurain, with extreme effort, was able to close. At the summit Leblanc sprinted ahead for a close win.

This was a new Indurain. In the past, the mountains posed a threat, a manageable threat, but a danger to him nonetheless. Now Indurain could attack the field in the mountains and beat the best climbers at their own game. Look at the times for the stage:

The General Classification:

The peloton was in tatters after the first real climb of the Tour.

The next day was another Pyrenean stage with the Peyresourde, the Aspin, Tourmalet and the final climb to Luz-Ardiden. With the field put in its place, Indurain let a group of non-contenders get away. Richard Virenque led over the last 3 climbs and won the stage with a lead of over 4½ minutes on Marco Pantani. Rominger, not well, withdrew from the Tour.

The Tour headed towards the Alps. On the way, there was stage 15, 231 kilometers from Montpellier to Carpentras with Mont Ventoux in the way. Early in the day the biggest man in the peloton, Eros Poli, took off. I clearly remember seeing this stage on TV. Back then, the weekend network coverage was spotty, spending infuriating amounts of time explaining the basics of bicycle racing and other needless garbage. But this stage and this adventure they covered.

The big man pedaled away from a completely indifferent peloton. Before he reached Mont Ventoux he had a lead of nearly half an hour. He couldn't get that big a lead without drawing down his stores of energy. The climb up Mont Ventoux seemed to be almost beyond him. Exhausted, he could barely turn over the cranks, looking terribly overgeared. He cleared the summit with several minutes in hand and sped down the other side. His big mass may have slowed him to a near standstill going up the hill, but going down, being big came in good stead. He won the stage 3 minutes, 39 seconds ahead of the first chasers. The contenders, Indurain, Pantani, Ugrumov, Virenque, and others came in together 4 minutes later. While Poli's ride was epic, nothing changed in the General Classification.

The first day in the Alps with the climb up L'Alpe d'Huez didn't change much either. Riders with no General Classification hopes were allowed to escape while Indurain stayed close enough to Leblanc and Virenque to keep them from becoming dangerous.

Stage 17 with its ascents of the Glandon, the Madeleine and an hors category finish at Val Thorens was the day Piotr Ugrumov finally came out and tried for a real shot at glory. On a long break he dragged Colombian Nelson Rodriguez to the finish where the Colombian sprinted ahead of Ugrumov for the win. Ugrumov was now up to sixth in the General Classification at a little over 11 minutes behind Indurain. Note that the interesting story of this Tour is the race for the minor placings. No one believed that the 1994 Indurain could be shaken from his place at the top of the standings.

The next day with the Saisies, Croix-Fry and the Colombière, all tough climbs, Ugrumov again escaped and this time achieved his solo victory. Indurain, unworried, came in second, 2 minutes, 39 seconds later. Ugrumov's solo adventure allowed him to leap past Pantani and others to make it to the podium. Now he was sitting third at 8 minutes, 55 seconds to Virenque's second place at 7 minutes, 22 seconds in the overall.

Stage 19 was the clincher for the 1994 Tour. It was a 47.5-kilometer individual time trial that climbed the second category Les Gets and the first category Avoriaz. Ugrumov turned in a stunning performance. Here are the stage results:

Virenque came in eighteenth at 6 minutes, 4 seconds. With that stunning collapse, he lost his place on the podium. Ugrumov moved up to second place and Marco Pantani dropped to third.

The final stage on the Champs Elysées was a fantastic, exciting race with Eddy Seigneur riding like a man possessed to take a solo win. Frankie Andreu was right on his heels, second at only 3 seconds.

The final 1994 Tour de France General Classification:

Climbers' Competition:

That made four sequential Tours for Miguel Indurain. Clearly, he was better than ever.

© McGann Publishing

1994 Tour de France: results and classification

General classification of the 1994 tour de france, jerseys of the 1994 tour de france, stages of the 1994 tour de france.

Prologue (Lille - Lille, 7.2 km in Individual Time Trial)

Stage 1 (Lille - Armentières, 234 km)

Stage 2 (Roubaix - Boulogne-sur-Mer, 203.5 km)

Stage 3 (Calais - Eurotunnel, 66.5 km in Team Time Trial)

Stage 4 (Dover - Brighton, 204.5 km)

Stage 5 (Portsmouth - Portsmouth, 187 km)

Stage 6 (Cherbourg - Rennes, 270.5 km)

Stage 7 (Rennes - Futuroscope, 259.5 km)

Stage 8 (Poitiers - Trélissac, 218.5 km)

Stage 9 (Périgueux - Bergerac, 64 km)

Stage 10 (Bergerac - Cahors, 160.5 km)

Stage 11 (Cahors - Lourdes/Hautacam, 263.5 km)

Stage 12 (Lourdes - Luz Ardiden, 204.5 km)

Stage 13 (Bagnères-de-Bigorre - Albi, 223 km)

Stage 14 (Castres - Montpellier, 202 km)

Stage 15 (Montpellier - Carpentras, 231 km)

Stage 16 (Valréas - Alpe d'Huez, 224.5 km)

Stage 17 (Le Bourg-d'Oisans - Val Thorens, 149 km)

Stage 18 (Moutiers - Cluses, 174.5 km)

Stage 19 (Cluses - Avoriaz, 47.5 km)

Stage 20 (Morzine - Lac St Point, 208.5 km)

Stage 21 (Disneyland-Paris - Paris/Champs Elysées, 175 km)

• Championship and cup winners
• Club honours
• World Cup: results of all matches
• Winners of the most important cycling races
• Tour de France winners (yellow jersey)
• Best sprinters (green jersey)
• Best climbers (polka dot jersey)
• Best young riders (white jersey)
• Tour de France: Stage winners
• Australian Open: Men's singles
• Australian Open: Women's singles
• Australian Open: Men's doubles
• Australian Open: Women's doubles
• Australian Open: Mixed doubles
• French Open: Men's singles
• French Open: Women's singles
• French Open: Men's doubles
• French Open: Women's doubles
• French Open: Mixed doubles
• US Open: Men's singles
• US Open: Women's singles
• US Open: Men's doubles
• US Open: Women's doubles
• US Open: Mixed doubles
• Wimbledon: Men's singles
• Wimbledon: Women's singles
• Wimbledon: Men's doubles
• Wimbledon: Women's doubles
• Wimbledon: Mixed doubles

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

CYCLING; Course Gets Tougher In '94 Tour de France

By Samuel Abt

• Oct. 21, 1993

Joop Zoetemelk described it as "a true Tour de France." Stephen Roche predicted it would be more interesting. Bernard Thevenet said it would favor climbers and Miguel Indurain said it would be different. All of them, winners of the Tour de France, agreed that the 81st edition of the bicycle race would be difficult.

The big unanswered question was whether the difficulties of the 1994 route, which was made public today in this suburb of Paris, will help or hinder Indurain as the Spaniard seeks to win the Tour for a fourth successive year.

"Anybody hoping to win the Tour better be strong the last week, better keep something in reserve for then," warned Thevenet, the Frenchman who won the Tour in 1975 and 1977. "The least weakness in that last week will be catastrophic." England Again

The 1994 Tour will cover 3,970 kilometers (2,467 miles) in 23 days. The race will start July 2 in Lille in the north of France, hop for two days into southern England for the first visit there in 20 years, then return across the Channel and proceed counterclockwise until the finish in Paris on July 24.

Excluding the short prologue and a day off on July 14, the Tour will comprise 12 daily stages over flat country, 6 stages in the high mountains and 3 time trials -- two on an individual basis and one by teams. Sprinters should dominate the first half of the race, climbers and all-rounders the second half.

Although there will be novelties like train passage through the Eurotunnel and a daily stage starting at the Euro Disney amusement park, the next Tour will be different from recent editions mainly in packing decisive stages -- on paper anyway -- into a short period near the finish.

"The final stretch will be hard," said Indurain. That stretch will last five days and culminate in an uphill time trial after four days of climbing, mainly in the Alps.

"This is a course for really tough guys," said Zoetemelk, the Dutchman who won the 1980 Tour. "For Rominger, for Indurain, too, of course." Rominger Could Benefit

The name of Tony Rominger, the Swiss who finished second to Indurain by nearly five minutes this year, came up often after the map was shown here. He is considered to be a stronger climber than the Spaniard and nearly his equal as a rider in time trials, or races against the clock.

"Rominger, Chiappucci," said Roche, the Irishman who won the 1987 Tour, naming two of his favorites in addition to the defending champion. Claudio Chiappucci, the fine Italian climber, has been campaigning for an uphill time trial since that traditional stage was dropped a few years ago. Time Trial Could Be Decisive

So, the 45-kilometer uphill time trial two days before the finish could decide the 1994 race. A climb over two hills will precede a long ascent to the resort of Avoriaz.

Will it suit Indurain, who habitually dominates the Tour's flat time trials?

"Any time trial course is a good one for him," said Jim Ochowicz, the general manager of the United States team. "But the uphill course brings the odds together a little bit more."

Cycling Around the Globe

The cycling world can be intimidating. but with the right mind-set and gear you can make the most of human-powered transportation..

Are you new to urban biking? These tips  will help you make sure you are ready to get on the saddle .

Whether you’re mountain biking down a forested path or hitting the local rail trail, you’ll need the right gear . Wirecutter has plenty of recommendations , from which bike to buy  to the best bike locks .

Do you get nervous at the thought of cycling in the city? Here are some ways to get comfortable with traffic .

Learn how to store your bike properly and give it the maintenance it needs  in the colder weather.

  Not ready for mountain biking just yet? Try gravel biking instead . Here are five places in the United States  to explore on two wheels.

‘I Thought I Lost It All.’ Inside the Crazy 4-Second Victory at the Women’s Tour de France

I ’ve never seen a cyclist win a bike race in the gutsy way Kasia Niewiadoma won the Tour de France Femmes. During the Tour’s final stage this past Sunday, the 29-year-old Niewiadoma—wearing yellow as the race’s overall leader—was dropped by a pair of opponents on the penultimate climb. With close to 34 miles of riding left, the situation appeared bleak. Niewiadoma was about to lose the Tour in a crushing last-day collapse.

Instead, Niewiadoma refused to give up. As rivals Demi Vollering and Pauliena Rooijakkers tried to gain time up the road, Niewiadoma put her head down and rode relentlessly in pursuit for almost two hours, trying to narrow the gap. On the final climb up the famed Alpe d’Huez, Niewiadoma managed to claw back enough time on Vollering and Rooijakkers that she retained her yellow jersey as race leader and won the overall Tour by 4 seconds, a shockingly narrow victory for a week-long race.

It was an incredible display of resilience and mental toughness, one that still has cycling fans talking. I wanted to ask Niewiadoma about it. We spoke Tuesday. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity:

When two riders broke away on that climb and you were unable to follow, what was going through your mind? Did you think, “Oh geez, I’m about to lose the Tour de France?”

Yeah, that moment definitely wasn’t uplifting. I just didn’t feel good in my body. I felt like I couldn’t find the right rhythm. I just felt like something was off. When your body is not responding and you cannot hold the main attack, of course the self-confidence is going down really fast. At that moment I thought that I lost it all. I thought I lost the jersey. I thought I lost the podium. I just felt terrible.

A lot of racers might pack it in after being dropped like that. Why didn’t you give up?

I didn’t see giving up as an option. I thought there was only one way: suffering. It was brutal, super painful everywhere, not just my legs, everything was hurting so much. But I just didn’t see slowing down or taking it easier as an option. I think athletes are wired that way: that you just see one way and especially when you wear yellow for some reason, you really don’t want to lose it.

Niewiadoma, who hails from Limanowa, Poland, and rides for the Canyon-SRAM team, managed to collect herself on the descent and a flat stretch. She had a few motivated companions, including two riders from the Lidl-Trek team, and the group worked together. Still, there was a lot of riding left, including the ferocious, 21-turn Alpe d’Huez.

During the race, you’re getting information via a team radio in your ear. Were they telling you how much time the leaders had taken? Did you want those updates? Or was that too stressful?

For the most part, I like knowing the information, what’s happening. At the bottom of [Alpe d’Huez], they were so pumped to motivate me for this last final hour of suffering. But in my mind I was like: just let me breathe. I asked, politely, “Could you please stop talking loud?” They gave me enough time so I could just find myself. The Tour de France is loud—a lot of screaming, a lot of talking, all those people around, you almost never have time for yourself. At that moment I felt like I just needed a couple of minutes.

If you thought you had lost the Tour on the prior climb—when did you think you might be riding your way back winning it?

It would cross my mind that it was possible, but I don’t think I fully believed it…I arrived at the finish line and I wasn’t sure. I thought that I lost it. I thought that I didn’t care because I was so tired. I just wanted to lay down. And then I heard this screaming in my ear and the explosion of happiness.

There’s a late moment on one of the last switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez when your husband, former racer Taylor Phinney, runs up to your side and shouts. Do you remember what he said?

This is the funniest thing. After the finish line I was like, “Where’s Taylor?” I wondered why he wasn’t at the finish line. I was so out of it. He told me he was running next to me for 20 seconds. I don’t remember—nothing.

You’ve won some big races before, but you’ve also had some heartbreaking near misses. You finished third twice at the Tour. Does that make this victory more satisfying?

Definitely. I do believe that with this result, I got rewarded for my whole career. I was missing results because of not having enough luck, or being stuck behind a crash, having a puncture or losing a teammate in a crucial moment. There were so many things that stopped me from achieving my dreams. And it’s never easy to be like, OK, let’s move on to another race and do it again from zero.

I just felt this whole week of the Tour de France Femmes avec [race sponsor] Zwift was beautiful, because every day, things were going our way…I was able to notice those little signs, and that was giving me a lot of sense of calmness that allowed me to just zone out and do my job.

I really truly believe that things are made for us and things have their own timeline. I also believe that all the failures and races I lost were for something. Every race I’m grateful for—even though I lost a lot of tears.

Write to Jason Gay at [email protected]

The average speed reached by the winners of the Tour de France increased by 53.9% since the first race in 1903 through 2016. This means an average speed increase rate of 0.42% each Tour.

The upward trend reached its peak at 41.65 km/h with the 7th consecutive win by the US cyclist Lance Armstrong in 2005. Average speeds fell since then until 2010, in spite of the participation of the same fast riders, which suggests more stringent anti-doping regulations and controls (see areppim's insight ). Since 2010, the average speed of the Tour winner resumed its ascending trend, approaching the long-term linear trend (red line in the chart), before slowing down a bit in 2015 and especially in 2016.

One cannot avoid suspecting the doings of illegal sports medical practices to be responsible for such high level performances. Indeed, the 2015 Tour had one rider excluded for positive control on drugs, and hot controversy surrounded the Tour winner's allegedly extraordinary performance. The doping affairs that tarnished the Tour champions' reputations since 1996 cast a dubious halo on the popular sports event. But, for that matter, other sports are not immune: tennis, soccer, running, practically all sport disciplines have been subject to on-going controversy after whistle blowers alerted to a variety of doping practices.

Sources: Le Tour de France

• Summer Sports

Niewiadoma wins women's Tour de France by 4 seconds overall after Alpe d'Huez thriller

Ottawa cyclist just 3rd canadian to finish in the top 10.

Social Sharing

Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma did just enough in a thrilling battle with rival Demi Vollering on the iconic Alpe d'Huez to win the women's Tour de France by four seconds overall.

Vollering was part of a breakaway Sunday with fellow Dutch rider Pauliena Rooijakkers after the Col du Glandon. She accelerated powerfully in the final stretch to win the eighth and final stage.

But Niewiadoma finished fourth to narrowly clinch her first Tour title, with an overall time of 24 hours, 36 minutes, 7 seconds.

Related Stories

• Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wins Tour de France, Canada's Derek Gee finishes 9th
• Michael Woods, fellow Canadian cyclist Riley Pickrell crash out of Giro d'Italia
• Eritrea's Biniam Girmay 1st Black cyclist to win Tour de France stage
• Canadian cyclist Derek Gee carries momentum into upcoming Tour de France debut
• Kelsey Mitchell looks to defend sprint title in Paris as part of Canada's Olympic cycling team
• More cycling coverage

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

Get up to speed on what's happening in sports. Delivered weekdays.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.

As it happened: Breakaway succeeds in rainy Liège at Tour de France Femmes stage 4

The Amstel Gold Liege-Bastogne-Liege mashup came down to a three up sprint with Pieterse taking the win ahead of Vollering and Niewiadoma

Tour de France Femmes - Everything you need to know Tour de France Femmes favourites Tour de France Femmes route Tour de France Femmes stage 3 report

Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift!

It's day three, but stage four, of the Tour de France Femmes 2024. The day starts in the Netherlands and the famous roads of the Amstel Gold Race including the Cauberg. The riders then head into Belgium and onto more famous roads from Liege-Bastogne-Liege with climbs such as the Redoute and Roche-aux-Faucons with a finish in the city of Liege.

The day will begin in Valkenberg, though. So far, three stages in the Netherlands and three stages won by a Dutch rider with a brace for Charlotte Kool (DFP) and an astonishing ride by Demi Vollering (SDW) in the time trial. Vollering now starts in yellow in her home country. An emotional moment for her...

>>> 'Emotion is my power' - Feelings run high as Demi Vollering takes yellow in front of home crowds at Tour de France Femmes  

The jerseys going into stage four:

Yellow - Demi Vollering (SDW) Green - Charlotte Kool (DFP) Polka dots - Cristina Tonetti (LAB) White - Anniina Ahtosalo (UXM)

>>> The current GC standings at the Tour de France Femmes 2024

While you wait for the racing to start, why not have a look at what else is going on here on CyclingNews. 

Chloe Dygert (CSR) shared her disappointment after she was beaten by Demi Vollering (SDW) in a time trial for the very first time...

>>> ‘Just didn't have a good day’ - ITT World Champion Chloé Dygert not strong enough to deny Vollering at Tour de France Femmes  

How did the teams deal with the logistics of two stages in one day yesterday in Rotterdam?

>>> Power naps, spectators' delight, staff headaches: How the double stage day at the Tour de France Femmes played out

And away from the Tour de France Femmmes, take a look at some of the big names who will be fighting for red at the Vuelta a Espana starting this weekend...

>>> Vuelta a España 2024 – Analysing the contenders  

Unfortunately, there has been one less rider on the start today as Canadian rider, Clara Emond (EFO) has been forced to leave the race. 

Sign on is well underway and there is even time for a bit of fun as Sarah Roy (COF) rides what looks like an extremely old bike off the stage... 

Audrey Cordon-Ragot (HPH) is always extremely popular with the media. There is always at least three requests to speak to her before a stage at the Tour. 

Another rider confirmed to be leaving the race and not starting this morning is Elise Chabbey (CSR). She has had a few crashes at this race and so is understandably unable to continue. 

A very happy 23rd birthday to Anna van Wersch (LTD)!

Neutral start

The riders have started the neutral zone. 

🚩 Here we go! Next stop @VilledeLiege!🚩 C’est parti ! Direction @VilledeLiege ! #TDFF2024 | #WatchTheFemmes | @GoZwift pic.twitter.com/n5b63i2YQX August 14, 2024

Christina Schweinberger (FED) makes it three riders leaving the race this morning. There are now 144 riders left in the race. 

Unfortunately, today we start the @LeTourFemmes avec Zwift with one less rider. Christina Scheinwberger has been struggling with gastrointestinal complaints since yesterday and since health obviously takes precedence, the medical staff decided to let her recover. pic.twitter.com/CUiDBGJLpw August 14, 2024

122.7km to go

The flag is waved by Marion Rousse and the racing is underway for stage four of the Tour de France Femmes 2024.

The first climb of the day, the Bemelerberg, is not far away at all. Less than 5km. The Bemelerberg is 1.3km long at an average gradient of 4.9%. A category four climb. 

All together at the base of the Bemelerberg. No attacks by any riders as of yet. 

Dropped by peloton

Martina Alzini (COF)

Not the ideal start for the Italian rider who finished ninth on stage two yesterday morning. 

Just waiting on the official results on the Bemelerberg. Sounding like Quinty Ton (LAJ) took second place and one point but no confirmation of the winner. The riders are now starting the Cauberg with more riders losing touch in the peloton. 

The Cauberg is, of course, extremely famous in cycling. Used in the Amstel Gold Race and in the World Championships back in 2012. It is 700 metres at an average gradient of 8% and is a category three climb.

QoM (Bemelerberg)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 2pts 2. Quinty Ton (NED) Lotto-DSTNY 1pt

Persico (UAD) now level on points with Tonetti (LAB). 

The weather has definitely taken a turn for the worse as rain is currently falling on the riders and at the finish. 

QoM (Cauberg)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 3pts 2. Yara Kastelijn (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck 2pts 3. Sofia Bertizzolo (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 1pt

Persico (UAD) now leads the QoM standings and is looking to take control of the jersey. 

The climbs come thick and fast in this first part of the day with the Geulhemmerberg up next. 1.1km at an average gradient of 5.1%. This is another category four climb. The riders are just 2km from the bottom of the ascent. 

QoM (Geulhemmerberg)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 2pts 2. Justine Ghekiere (BEL) AG Insurance-Soudal 1pt

100km to go

It is back to the Bemelerberg for one last ascent and more points before a period of no QoM or intermediate sprints. The intermediate sprint comes in around 45km. 

Onto the Bemelerberg for the second and final time today... 1.3km at an average of 4.9% with two points available for the first rider across the line with one point for second place. 

The roads are dry for the moment with better weather expected later today but showers are expected as well. 

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 2pts 2. Yara Kastelijn (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck 1pt

That is 100% of the QoM sprints won by Persico (UAD) in this early part of the stage. Four climbs still to come. 

Split in peloton

A group of about 10 riders have pulled out a gap of around 10" on the peloton. No confirmed riders in the group but Persico (UAD) and Kastelijn (FED) are almost certainly in it as it formed on the Bemelerberg climb. 

The gap closing to 5" with FDJ-Suez closing the gap. 

Ane Santesteban (LAB)

All back together again after FDJ-Suez worked to close it down. Will any break get away at all today? 

The Italian rider was dropped on the first climb of the day and has not recovered. A shame for Cofidis' sprinter. 

Dropped from peloton

Silvestri (LAB) Santesteban (LAB) Pikulik (HPH) Roussel (AUB) Misyurina (TCF) Coles-Lyster (CGS)

Santesteban is, of course, trying to come back from her mechanical. They are about a minute down at the moment. 

Ane Santesteban (LAB) makes it back into the peloton. 

Sara Martín (MOV)

The Spanish rider has a gap of 10" on the peloton at the moment. 

The peloton is absolutely flying at the moment with it in one long line but Sara Martín (MOV) still holds her 10" lead. 

Martín (MOV) stretches her lead to 25". 

Rear puncture

The luck is not on the Spanish rider's ride today. 

Some fantastic crowds out on course today...

Look at those crowds 🤩😍 #TDF2024 #WatchTheFemmes 📸 A.S.O./Charly Lopez pic.twitter.com/p0U74EE4pU August 14, 2024

The gap to Martín (MOV) is now over a minute. 

Martín (MOV) making good progress in her solo move. Now leading by 1'15" over the peloton. 

What the QoM classification looks like after the first four climbs of the day. The rain is falling, yet again. 

⚪️🔴 Classement après les 4 premières ascensions du jour ⚪️🔴🥇 🇮🇹@silvia_persico, 9 pts🥈 🇳🇱@Yarakastelijn, 3 pts🥉 🇮🇹 Cristina Tonetti ⚪️🔴, 2 pts#TDFF2024 #WatchTheFemmes@GoZwift pic.twitter.com/kTDrNj6IRQ August 14, 2024

Human Powered Health, Canyon-SRAM, Uno-X Mobility and Liv-AlUla-Jayco leading the peloton. Gap sat at 1'13" up to the lone leader. 

Ane Santesteban (LAB) after he crash and mechanical she is now at the medical car. Not the day she would have been hoping for. 

Laura Tomasi (LAB)

The Italian is looking to bridge to gap to Martín (MOV) up the road. 

Nikola Noskova (COF) now at the medical car after crashing yesterday. Hopefully she is okay. 

Martín (MOV) has Tomasi (LAB) chasing at +40" with the peloton +1'04" down on the lader. 

Karlijn Swinkels (UAD)

Tomasi (LAB) isn't closing the gap to Martín (MOV) and, if anything, is slowly being dragged back on the uncategorised climb the race is currently going up. Canyon-SRAM and Lidl-Trek leading the way. 

The race has now entered Belgium and is well on the way to the climbs that are famous in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. 

The weather is still rather damp but it isn't cold. All the riders in short sleeves and shorts. 

Several teams moving to the front with Deignan (LTK), Wiebes (SDW), Faulkner (EFO), Roseman-Gannon (LAJ) and Williams (HPH) leading the was for their leaders into a tight series of bends before another uncategorised climb. 

The pace is so high in the peloton and the time gap up to Martín (MOV) is falling with it standing at 48" for the moment. 

Just 5km to go until the riders get to the intermediate sprint in Pepinster. 

Martín (MOV) in the break has 56" on the peloton. 

Neve Bradbury (CSR) Chloe Dygert (CSR)

Nightmare moment for two key riders for Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR). Neither of them looking comfortable on the wet descents. 

Sara Martín (MOV) takes the intermediate sprint but behind, the sprint is on and Charlotte Kool (DFP) beats Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and Marianne Vos (TVL) to the line. 

Lorena Wiebes (SDW) is just pushing on a little bit on her own and that is being quickly closed down by FDJ-Suez and Fenix-Deceuninck. 

Maggie Coles-Lyster (CGS)

A very large group dropped out of the back of the peloton. Including Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED), Grace Brown (FST), Mikayla Harvey (UAD), Barbara Malcotti (HPH), Antri Christoforou (CGS) and Sara Gigante (AGS) all in there. 

Level crossing

The race has been stopped due to a level crossing. Not see this for a long time. Sara Martín (MOV) will be allowed the gap that she had over the peloton again when they are able to restart. 

Back racing

The riders are riding once more as Sara Martín (MOV) will re-establish her gap. 

It has allowed Dygert (CSR) and Bradbury (CSR) to get back into the peloton again. They will be breathing a big sigh of relief. Likewise the large group out of the back. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (LAJ) leading the pack. 

Mont-Theux is the next climb coming up now. 2.8km with an average gradient of 5.6%. 

Fenix-Deceuninck comes to the front en masse for Yara Kastelijn who appears to be keen to get some more QoM points. But, she has been consistently beaten by Silvia Persico (UAD) so far today. 

The gap is now sat at around 50". 

Rooijakkers (FED) now really upping the tempo with Fisher-Black (SDW) trying to follow. 

Martín (MOV) is caught

Ghekiere (AGS) and Kastelijn (FED) trying to join. All back together again. 

All the main favourites are right up towards the front. 

QoM (Mont-Theux)

1. Yara Kastelijn (FED) 3pts 2. Justine Ghekiere (BEL) AG Insurance-Soudal 2pts

Waiting to see who took the one point. 

Kastelijn (FED) and Ghekiere (AGS) trying to push on and get a gap. However, FDJ-Suez are very keen to drag it back. 

Kastelijn (FED) and Ghekiere (AGS) caught by the peloton as FDJ-Suez continue the tempo on the front. 

Green and white jerseys, Kool (DFP) and Ahtosalo (UXM) along with several other riders as the climbs start to bite. 

Intermediate sprint result (Pepinster)

1. Sara Martín (MOV) 25pts 2. Charlotte Kool (DFP) 20pts 3. Lorena Wiebes (SDW) 17pts 4. Marianne Vos (TVL) 15pts 5. Rachele Barbieri (DFP) 13pts 6. Fem van Empel (TVL) 11pts 7. Anniina Ahtosalo (UXM) 10pts 8. Lizzie Deignan (LTK) 9pts 9. Anna Henderson (TVL) 8pts 10. Silke Smulders (LAJ) 7pts 11. Barbara Guarischi (SDW) 6pts 12. Linda Riedmann (TVL) 5pts 13. Pfeiffer Georgi (DFP) 4pts 14. Sophie von Berswordt (TVL) 15. Gaia Realini (LTK) 2pts

The riders are now on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege course as they start the rapid descent to start the Cote de la Redoute. 1.6km at 9.4% average gradient. Lidl-Trek leading the way. 

Lidl-Trek and Movistar leading into the town just before the Redoute climb. 

There is a large group out of the back including Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and spanish national champion, Usoa Ostolaza (LAB). 

Visma-Lease a Bike now on the front. Riedmann (TVL) on the front. They are working for the stage win for Marianne Vos. 

Onto the Cote de la Redoute they go. Visma-Lease a Bike and Movistar lead but there are followed by all the main leaders. 

Puck Pieterse (FED), Silvia Persico (UAD) and Thalita De Jong (LTD) on the front of the bunch now with 1km to go to the top of the climb. 

Persico (UAD) now starting to struggle with the pace as Pieterse (FED) momentarily gapped the rest of the riders. She is looking very good on the front working for Kastelijn (FED). 

Kastelijn joins her Fenix-Deceuninck teammates of Rooijakkers and Pieterse at the front of the bunch. 

Niewiadoma (CSR) and Vollering (SDW) following well at the moment with Pieterse (FED) back on the front. Labous (DFP) also slotted in the wheel as the lead group is shrinking all the time. 

QoM (Cote de la Redouet)

1. Puck Pieterse (FED) 5pts 2. Demi Vollering (SDW) 3pts 3. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) 2pts 4. Kim Le Court (AGS) 1pt

Grace Brown (FST). 

Kristen Faulkner (EFO) Puck PIeterse (FED)

Very quickly closed down. 

A small gap starting to form for a group including Pieterse (FED), Lippert (MOV), Gigante (AGS), Ludwig (FST). Unsurprisingly it is very quickly closed. 

FDJ-Suez back drilling the pace for Ludwig and Muzic. 

European champion, Mischa Bredewold leading the yellow jersey and SD Worx-Protime leader, Demi Vollering, as they head towards the Côte des Forges climb. They only have Vas and Fisher-Black in there to work for the race leader. 

Onto the Côte des Forges and Blanka Vas (SDW) is dropped along with Silvia Persico (UAD). 

Vas (SDW) manages to drag herself back to the peloton again to try and help her team. 

Sarah Gigante (AGS) Mavi Garcia (LAJ)

The move not being given an inch. 

Justine Ghekiere (AGS)

She launches and Kastelijn (FED) can't follow. 

QoM (Côte des Forges)

1. Justine Ghekiere (AGS) 3pts 2. Yara Kastelijn (FED) 2pts 3. Sarah Gigante (AGS) 1pt

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) is now pushing on solo. A very dangerous rider to allow up the road. She already has 17" on the bunch as the rain is absolutely tipping it down. 

Ghekiere (AGS) is looking good on the bike and is pushing on to, at least, take the points on the final climb of the day, the Roche-aux-Faucons. 

Attack in peloton

Olivia Baril (MOV)

The Canadian champion rolls off the front in an attempt to close the gap to Justine Ghekiere (AGS) 23" up the road. But the peloton swiftly closes it down again. 

Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (FST)

She has a teammate with her to try and help her back into the bunch. 

Bike change

A swift change but an absolute disaster for the Danish rider. She has Amber Kraak supporting her. 

Into the final 15km and Justine Ghekiere (AGS) has 24" on the SD Worx-Protime led peloton. Onto the final climb of the day, Roche-aux-Faucons. 1.3km with an average gradient of 11% with a max of 14%. 

Bredewold (SDW) upping the pace dramatically for Vollering (SDW). She swings off and Vas (SDW) takes over. Fisher-Black also moving up. 

Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW) Magdeleine Vallieres (EFO)

But Vollering (SDW) closes it down. 

Vollering (SDW) now comes to the front herself to start setting the pace with riders being dropped all the time. 

Riejanne Markus (TVL) Anna Henderson (TVL)

That is a surprise. 

Only four riders at the front now as Ghekiere (AGS) is caught. The group is:

Demi Vollering (SDW) Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) Puck Pieterse (FED) Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED)

QoM (Roche-aux-Faucons)

1. Puck Pieterse (FED) 5pts 2. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) 3pts 3. Demi Vollering (SDW) 2pts 4. Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED) 1pt

EF-Oatly-Cannondale chasing behind for Rüegg and Faulkner. They are about 15" behind at the moment. 

Bonus sprint

1. Demi Vollering (SDW) 6" 2. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) 4" 3. Puck Pieterse (FED) 2"

Rooijakkers (FED) caught by the chase group who are just 10" behind the leading trio. 

In the chase group riders are:

Faulkner (EFO) Realini (LTK) Van Anrooij (LTK) De Jong (LTD) Rüegg (EFO) Meijering (MOV) Labous (DFP) Rooijakkers (FED) Fisher-Black (SDW) Vallieres (EFO) Muzic (FST)

23" between the leaders and the chasers now. 

Vollering (SDW), Pieterse (FED) and Niewiadoma (CSR) have 32" on the chasing group now with 7km to go. 

Vallieres and Faulkner are working for their EF-Oatly-Cannondale teammate, Rüegg to take the sprint. However, they need to close 27" gap. 

Into the final 4km and the leaders are extending their gap thanks to their superb descending skills. Vollering (SDW), Niewiadoma (CSR) and Pieterse (FED) are probably the best descenders in the peloton. 

3km to go and 33" between the leaders and the first chase group. A minute back to the Kerbaol (WNT) group. 

2km to go and the gap has apparently plummeted. Saying 27". How true that is I am not sure. 

Flamme Rouge

Into the final 1000 metres of the stage in Liege. The weather is classic Ardennes weather. The riders at the front are the expected ones. But can Puck Pieterse (FED) take her first big road race victory ahead of two of the sport's biggest stars? 

Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR)

500 metres to go but it is closed down. 

It's a photo finish!! It looks like it was Demi Vollering (SDW) stealing the victory from Puck PIeterse (FED) with Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) in third. Kim Le Court (AGS) leading in the chase group. 

For the moment, Puck Pieterse (FED) has been given the win but will that stand? It was so close on the line. 

Puck Pieterse (FED) wins stage four of the Tour de France 2024!! What a huge moment for the multi-discipline superstar. Her first road victory and it is on the biggest stage.  

Stage four top 10

1. Puck Pieterse (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck 3:12'28" 2. Demi Vollering (NED) SD Worx-Protime 3. Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) Canyon-SRAM all S.T. 4. Kim Le Court (MAU) AG Insurance-Soudal +29" 5. Noemi Rüegg (SUI) EF-Oatly-Cannondale 6. Thalita De Jong (NED) Lotto-DSTNY 7. Évita Muzic (FRA) FDJ-Suez 8. Shirin van Anrooij (NED) Lidl-Trek 9. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) SD Worx-Protime 10. Mareille Meijering (NED) Movistar all S.T.

General Classification after stage four

1. Demi Vollering (NED) SD Worx-Protime 7:40'10" 2. Puck Pieterse (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck +22" 3. Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) Canyon-SRAM +34" 4. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF-Oatly-Cannondale +47" 5. Juliette Labous (FRA) DSM-Firmenich-PostNL +56" 6. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck +1'03" 7. Kim Le Court (MAU) AG Insurance-Soudal S.T. 8. Thalita De Jong (NED) Lotto-DSTNY +1'04" 9. Cédrine Kerbaol (FRA) Ceratizit-WNT S.T. 10. Shirin van Anrooij (NED) Lidl-Trek +1'07"

Not only did Puck Pieterse (FED) win the stage, she moves into second place on GC, takes the polka dot jersey and the white jersey as well. A truly perfect day for the Fenix-Deceuninck squad. 

And our post race report is ready for you to read! Make sure you keep going back to it as more information and reaction will be added as the afternoon goes on...

>>> Tour de France Femmes: Puck Pieterse stuns Vollering with first WorldTour victory in photo finish on stage 4  

Demi Vollering (SDW) extended her lead in the yellow jersey standings on stage four. 

Puck Pieterse (FED) goes into the polka dot jersey by just one point over Silvia Persico (UAD). 

Puck Pieterse (FED) also goes into white. This is her big goal for this race, as well as a stage. She has the stage and wears white and polka dots. So, not bad so far. 

Charlotte Kool (DFP) extended her lead over Marianne Vos (TVL), Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and the rest after taking second place in today's intermediate sprint. 

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) won the most combative rider award after a gutsy attack over the Cote des Forges. I would have thought it would've gone to Sara Martin (MOV) after having most of the day out front on her own. 

Keegan Swenson and Lauren Stephens shake up the dust in Colorado for wins at SBT GRVL

Notable feats and failures make 8 significant impressions at 2024 Tour de France Femmes

Robert Stannard signs with Bahrain Victorious after accepting doping sanction

Most popular, latest on cyclingnews.

Women's WorldTour – The definitive guide for 2024

Vuelta a España 2024 stage 5 preview - Sprinters take aim at Sevilla

Primož Roglič 'had the legs' and back in command at Vuelta a España with summit sprint win

As it happened - Vuelta a España's first GC summit finish showdown on stage 4

‘That was kind of stupid’ - Lennert Van Eetvelt regrets arm gesture that cost him Vuelta a España stage win

Defending Vuelta a España champion Sepp Kuss determined to battle on despite first summit finish time loss

The current GC standings at the Vuelta a España

No.22 releases stunning 3D-printed titanium aero bike

• Tour de France
• Giro d'Italia
• La Vuelta ciclista a España
• World Championships
• Milano-Sanremo
• Amstel Gold Race
• Tirreno-Adriatico
• Il Lombardia
• Liège-Bastogne-Liège
• La Flèche Wallonne
• Paris - Nice
• Paris-Roubaix
• Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
• Critérium du Dauphiné
• Tour des Flandres
• Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields
• Clásica Ciclista San Sebastián
• Astana Qazaqstan Team
• Bahrain - Victorious
• Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
• Arkéa - B&B Hotels
• Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Groupama - FDJ
• INEOS Grenadiers
• Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Intermarché - Wanty
• Lidl - Trek
• Movistar Team
• Soudal - Quick Step
• Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
• Team Jayco AlUla
• Team Visma | Lease a Bike
• UAE Team Emirates
• Grand tours
• Top competitors
• Final GC favorites
• Stage profiles
• Riders form
• Countdown to 3 billion pageviews
• Favorite500
• Profile Score
• Terminology list
• Stage winners
• All stage profiles
• Race palmares
• Complementary results
• Finish photo
• Contribute info
• Contribute results
• Contribute site(s)
• Results - Results
• Info - Info
• Live - Live
• Game - Game
• Stats - Stats
• More - More
•   »  

Points at finish

Sprint | allemont, sprint | aigueblanche, mountain sprint | col du glandon, mountain sprint | col de la madeleine, mountain sprint | val thorens, race information.

• Date: 20 July 1994
• Start time: -
• Avg. speed winner: 28.48 km/h
• Classification:
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 149 km
• Points scale: GT.A.Stage
• Parcours type:
• ProfileScore: 599
• Vertical meters: 5500
• Departure: Bourg D'oisans
• Arrival: Val Thorens
• Race ranking: n/a
• Startlist quality score: 1731
• Won how: 1 km solo
• Avg. temperature:

Grand Tours

• Vuelta a España

Major Tours

• Volta a Catalunya
• Tour de Romandie
• Tour de Suisse
• Itzulia Basque Country
• Milano-SanRemo
• Ronde van Vlaanderen

Championships

• European championships

Top classics

• Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
• Strade Bianche
• Gent-Wevelgem
• Dwars door Vlaanderen
• Eschborn-Frankfurt
• San Sebastian
• Bretagne Classic
• GP Montréal

Popular riders

• Tadej Pogačar
• Wout van Aert
• Remco Evenepoel
• Jonas Vingegaard
• Mathieu van der Poel
• Mads Pedersen
• Primoz Roglic
• Demi Vollering
• Lotte Kopecky
• Katarzyna Niewiadoma
• PCS ranking
• UCI World Ranking
• Points per age
• Latest injuries
• Youngest riders
• Grand tour statistics
• Monument classics
• Latest transfers
• Favorite 500
• Points scales
• Profile scores
• Reset password
• Cookie consent

About ProCyclingStats

• Cookie policy
• Contributions
• Pageload 0.0975s