With 228 kilometers, the fourth day of the Criterium du Dauphine marked the longest section of this year's edition of the French stage race. The peloton allowed two riders to go clear shortly after the start in Anneyron. The duo was able to built-up a maximum lead of eight minutes before the sprinters’ teams began the chase, thus protecting their last chance for a bunch sprint. On the last climb, 13 kilometers from the finish, several riders attacked from the peloton. These efforts continued until the last kilometer. The bunch managed to neutralize the final attack there, so the stage was decided in a mass sprint. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) secured his second victory.

Although BORA – ARGON 18 didn’t line-up with a real sprinter, the German team was very present in the finale. With Björn Thurau in 11th place, Paul Voss in 14th and Jose Mendes in 16th, the squad placed three riders in the Top 20.

"Today was a quite a long stage and it was the last chance for the sprinters before the climbers take over tomorrow. We wanted to be represented only in large groups and in case of a small group we wanted to save power for the upcoming days. The last 25 kilometers were quite demanding and required maximum concentration. After the descent, there was another climb, plus small winding roads and rain. It was just important to be positioned in front and risking no loss of time. Since we are here without a sprinter, the boys were looking for their chance in the finale - but in the end it was more of precaution that we positioned all of us at the front of the bunch", commented Sports Director Enrico Poitschke today’s stage.

"Tomorrow's stage is exactly the 17th stage of this year's Tour de France. For us, it is of course good and important that we can race this stage here in the Dauphine already. Tomorrow the first preliminary decision for the GC is expected and we will see to what extent our climbers, especially Dominik [Nerz], can go with the favorites", Poitschke looks ahead.