Poitiers, France – Dutch sprinting sensation Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx-Protime continued her dominant run at the women’s Tour de France on Tuesday, clinching her second consecutive stage victory in a powerful bunch sprint. She once again outpaced her compatriot and current yellow jersey holder, Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), in a thrilling finish to Stage 4.
Wiebes’ Sprint Masterclass Continues
The fourth stage, covering 130.7km from Saumur to Poitiers, saw Wiebes replicate her success from the previous day, crossing the line just ahead of Vos. This marks Wiebes’ 16th victory of the season and an astounding 109th of her career, solidifying her position as one of the peloton’s most formidable sprinters. Ireland’s Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) completed the podium in third place.
The stage itself was a welcome change from Monday’s chaotic and crash-marred events in Angers, proceeding with significantly fewer incidents. Pre-race favourite Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ), who was the main victim of Monday’s mass crash and appeared apprehensive at the start, managed to finish safely in the peloton, recording the same time as Wiebes. Vollering currently sits sixth overall, 25 seconds behind leader Vos and 13 seconds behind second-placed Wiebes, keeping her general classification hopes alive.
The day’s breakaway was initiated by Franziska Koch of Germany (Team Picnic PostNL) and Brazilian Ana Vitoria Magalhaes (Movistar Team), who courageously stayed ahead for much of the stage after making their move just over an hour into the race. However, their valiant efforts were ultimately reeled in by the relentless chase of the SD Worx team, who caught them a mere 3km from the finish line, setting up Wiebes for her sprint triumph.
Looking Ahead: Longest Stage Awaits
Wednesday will present a new challenge for the riders, featuring the longest stage of the 2025 edition. The 165.8km route from Chasseneuil-du-Poitou/Futuroscope to Gueret will test the peloton’s endurance, culminating in a demanding finish that includes three climbs packed within the final 35km, promising a day for the stronger riders and potential shifts in the general classification.
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