After an anonymous performance so far, Sacha Modolo was finally able to show himself in a Tour of Qatar bunch sprint when he finished 10th in stage 4.

However, Lampre-Merida lost out in the fierce fight for position. At 300m from the finish, Modolo found himself  stuck in the chaos of a sprint launched on a wide avenue and he had to slow down heavily. At the finish he was 10th, still showing a good condition.

"Today we have to admit that we lost control in the final of the race," sports director Philippe Mauduit said. "It was a confusing finale with a headwind and a great battle between the sprint teams. I don't think we could have won but a top 5 was within reach.

"Already tomorrow we have a duty to make up and to work better in the changes of the wind along the stage and in the final kilometers to bring our sprinter in top condition to contest the sprint."