For the second time in this year's Tour de France, Thomas Voeckler showed himself when he went on the attack in yesterday's fourth stage of the race. The Frenchman had no illusions about making it to the finish but needed to warm up his diesel engine for later in the race.

As a quadruple stage winner of the Tour de France, Thomas Voeckler is a perennial attacker in the world's biggest race and yesterday he mixed it up in the early breakaway for the first time in this year's race. Originally joined by Luis Angel Maté, he continued on his own near the finish but was swallowed up 16km from the finish.

Having been awarded the award as most aggressive rider, Voeckler made it clear that he never believed in his chances. Instead, he attack served another purpose.

"I had decided in the morning to make a move to dust off the engine," he said. "I'm a diesel, I'm 35, I need to warm up. I had no illusions about my chances to go all the way. But I really enjoyed myself today.

"We're not afraid of tomorrow's stage, but we're apprehensive of course. The goal for us will be to make sure to place Pierre Rolland in the best possible position and loses as little time as possible. The little failure he had yesterday is nothing, he has become one of the great Grand Tour riders in the world. He is now in another dimension.

"As for Bryan Coquard, you must leave him time to progress but don't worry, you will soon have to talk about him."