The fourth Tour stage took the riders from Seraing to Cambrai. There were lots of people to watch the second start in Belgium. Many GC riders weren’t looking forward to this stage because of the distance and the seven cobblestone sectors. With 223.5 kilometres, this was the longest stage of the Tour. The victory was for the German Tony Martin. Tony Gallopin rode very well again and raced attentively. He finished on place eight and is still fourth overall.

After one kilometre Thomas De Gendt attacked. He got in a breakaway with Brun, Westra and Quéméneur. At a certain moment they had a lead of more than nine minutes, but when they got closer to the cobbles, the gap decreased quickly. De Gendt was the first at the top of the Citadel de Namur and was also first at the intermediate sprint.

"With forty kilometres to go the four leaders were caught. Then there was an acceleration and the peloton got reduced, about fifty riders were left in front. In the finale there were attacks of among other Vanmarcke and Froome, but nobody got away. In the end Tony Martin attacked and stayed ahead. He’s the new leader. Tony Gallopin is fourth overall, at 38 seconds. André Greipel keeps the green jersey.

“The goal of my attack was to stay in front till after the third of six cobbled sectors in the finale, to help the teammates," De Gendt said. "But a nervous peloton made that impossible. The first cobbled sector and the intermediate sprint caused an acceleration of the bunch, so our advantage shrunk quickly.

"At the start I saw Westra, it’s not like him to be at the start that early and we decided to go in a break together. We hoped to be with about ten riders, but it was only a quartet. And with the headwind it was hard. I took the only point for the KOM classification today. I don’t think about it in the first ten days, but because I was riding in front, I could better be first at the top."

“It wasn’t easy today, but among others Sieberg and Greipel made sure I was positioned well at the beginning of every sector," Gallopin said. "It’s good that I could stay with the first group, but I was ‘à bloc’ at every sector.

"I wanted to attack the last two kilometres, but a very strong Tony Martin was first. Chapeau! There weren’t any problems today, but still I’m glad this stage is over. Everyone was very nervous and a crash can happen everywhere.”

"This will be a stage to remember," Greipel said. "As I said, I try to score points for the green jersey in every sprint that comes up but the green itself isn't a goal for now. It's been a pleasure to wear it in Belgium though, for my team and for my fans."

Adam Hansen and Greg Henderson, who both crashed hard this Tour, showed their perseverance once again and finished today’s stage as well. They both hope they will get better the next days.