As it happened: Breakaway succeeds in rainy Liège at Tour de France Femmes stage 4

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The Amstel Gold Liege-Bastogne-Liege mashup came down to a three up sprint with Pieterse taking the win ahead of Vollering and Niewiadoma

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Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift!

It's day three, but stage four, of the Tour de France Femmes 2024. The day starts in the Netherlands and the famous roads of the Amstel Gold Race including the Cauberg. The riders then head into Belgium and onto more famous roads from Liege-Bastogne-Liege with climbs such as the Redoute and Roche-aux-Faucons with a finish in the city of Liege.

The day will begin in Valkenberg, though. So far, three stages in the Netherlands and three stages won by a Dutch rider with a brace for Charlotte Kool (DFP) and an astonishing ride by Demi Vollering (SDW) in the time trial. Vollering now starts in yellow in her home country. An emotional moment for her...

The jerseys going into stage four:

While you wait for the racing to start, why not have a look at what else is going on here on CyclingNews. 

How did the teams deal with the logistics of two stages in one day yesterday in Rotterdam?

And away from the Tour de France Femmmes, take a look at some of the big names who will be fighting for red at the Vuelta a Espana starting this weekend...

Unfortunately, there has been one less rider on the start today as Canadian rider, Clara Emond (EFO) has been forced to leave the race. 

Sign on is well underway and there is even time for a bit of fun as Sarah Roy (COF) rides what looks like an extremely old bike off the stage... 

Audrey Cordon-Ragot (HPH) is always extremely popular with the media. There is always at least three requests to speak to her before a stage at the Tour. 

Another rider confirmed to be leaving the race and not starting this morning is Elise Chabbey (CSR). She has had a few crashes at this race and so is understandably unable to continue. 

A very happy 23rd birthday to Anna van Wersch (LTD)!

Neutral start

Christina Schweinberger (FED) makes it three riders leaving the race this morning. There are now 144 riders left in the race. 

122.7km to go

The first climb of the day, the Bemelerberg, is not far away at all. Less than 5km. The Bemelerberg is 1.3km long at an average gradient of 4.9%. A category four climb. 

All together at the base of the Bemelerberg. No attacks by any riders as of yet. 

Dropped by peloton

Just waiting on the official results on the Bemelerberg. Sounding like Quinty Ton (LAJ) took second place and one point but no confirmation of the winner. The riders are now starting the Cauberg with more riders losing touch in the peloton. 

The Cauberg is, of course, extremely famous in cycling. Used in the Amstel Gold Race and in the World Championships back in 2012. It is 700 metres at an average gradient of 8% and is a category three climb.

QoM (Bemelerberg)

The weather has definitely taken a turn for the worse as rain is currently falling on the riders and at the finish. 

QoM (Cauberg)

The climbs come thick and fast in this first part of the day with the Geulhemmerberg up next. 1.1km at an average gradient of 5.1%. This is another category four climb. The riders are just 2km from the bottom of the ascent. 

QoM (Geulhemmerberg)

100km to go

Onto the Bemelerberg for the second and final time today... 1.3km at an average of 4.9% with two points available for the first rider across the line with one point for second place. 

The roads are dry for the moment with better weather expected later today but showers are expected as well. 

QoM (Bemelerberg)

Split in peloton

The gap closing to 5" with FDJ-Suez closing the gap. 

Mechanical

All back together again after FDJ-Suez worked to close it down. Will any break get away at all today? 

Abandon

Dropped from peloton

Ane Santesteban (LAB) makes it back into the peloton. 

Attack

90km to go

Martín (MOV) stretches her lead to 25". 

Rear puncture

Some fantastic crowds out on course today...

The gap to Martín (MOV) is now over a minute. 

80km to go

What the QoM classification looks like after the first four climbs of the day. The rain is falling, yet again. 

Human Powered Health, Canyon-SRAM, Uno-X Mobility and Liv-AlUla-Jayco leading the peloton. Gap sat at 1'13" up to the lone leader. 

Ane Santesteban (LAB) after he crash and mechanical she is now at the medical car. Not the day she would have been hoping for. 

Attack!

Nikola Noskova (COF) now at the medical car after crashing yesterday. Hopefully she is okay. 

70km to go

Mechanical

Tomasi (LAB) isn't closing the gap to Martín (MOV) and, if anything, is slowly being dragged back on the uncategorised climb the race is currently going up. Canyon-SRAM and Lidl-Trek leading the way. 

The race has now entered Belgium and is well on the way to the climbs that are famous in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. 

The weather is still rather damp but it isn't cold. All the riders in short sleeves and shorts. 

Several teams moving to the front with Deignan (LTK), Wiebes (SDW), Faulkner (EFO), Roseman-Gannon (LAJ) and Williams (HPH) leading the was for their leaders into a tight series of bends before another uncategorised climb. 

Caught

60km to go

Just 5km to go until the riders get to the intermediate sprint in Pepinster. 

Martín (MOV) in the break has 56" on the peloton. 

Crash

Sara Martín (MOV) takes the intermediate sprint but behind, the sprint is on and Charlotte Kool (DFP) beats Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and Marianne Vos (TVL) to the line. 

Lorena Wiebes (SDW) is just pushing on a little bit on her own and that is being quickly closed down by FDJ-Suez and Fenix-Deceuninck. 

Abandon

A very large group dropped out of the back of the peloton. Including Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED), Grace Brown (FST), Mikayla Harvey (UAD), Barbara Malcotti (HPH), Antri Christoforou (CGS) and Sara Gigante (AGS) all in there. 

Level crossing

Back racing

It has allowed Dygert (CSR) and Bradbury (CSR) to get back into the peloton again. They will be breathing a big sigh of relief. Likewise the large group out of the back. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (LAJ) leading the pack. 

Mont-Theux is the next climb coming up now. 2.8km with an average gradient of 5.6%. 

Fenix-Deceuninck comes to the front en masse for Yara Kastelijn who appears to be keen to get some more QoM points. But, she has been consistently beaten by Silvia Persico (UAD) so far today. 

50km to go

Rooijakkers (FED) now really upping the tempo with Fisher-Black (SDW) trying to follow. 

Caught

All the main favourites are right up towards the front. 

QoM (Mont-Theux)

Kastelijn (FED) and Ghekiere (AGS) trying to push on and get a gap. However, FDJ-Suez are very keen to drag it back. 

Kastelijn (FED) and Ghekiere (AGS) caught by the peloton as FDJ-Suez continue the tempo on the front. 

Dropped

Intermediate sprint result (Pepinster)

40km to go

Lidl-Trek and Movistar leading into the town just before the Redoute climb. 

There is a large group out of the back including Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and spanish national champion, Usoa Ostolaza (LAB). 

Visma-Lease a Bike now on the front. Riedmann (TVL) on the front. They are working for the stage win for Marianne Vos. 

Onto the Cote de la Redoute they go. Visma-Lease a Bike and Movistar lead but there are followed by all the main leaders. 

Puck Pieterse (FED), Silvia Persico (UAD) and Thalita De Jong (LTD) on the front of the bunch now with 1km to go to the top of the climb. 

Persico (UAD) now starting to struggle with the pace as Pieterse (FED) momentarily gapped the rest of the riders. She is looking very good on the front working for Kastelijn (FED). 

Kastelijn joins her Fenix-Deceuninck teammates of Rooijakkers and Pieterse at the front of the bunch. 

Niewiadoma (CSR) and Vollering (SDW) following well at the moment with Pieterse (FED) back on the front. Labous (DFP) also slotted in the wheel as the lead group is shrinking all the time. 

QoM (Cote de la Redouet)

Dropped

Attack

30km to go

FDJ-Suez back drilling the pace for Ludwig and Muzic. 

European champion, Mischa Bredewold leading the yellow jersey and SD Worx-Protime leader, Demi Vollering, as they head towards the Côte des Forges climb. They only have Vas and Fisher-Black in there to work for the race leader. 

Onto the Côte des Forges and Blanka Vas (SDW) is dropped along with Silvia Persico (UAD). 

Vas (SDW) manages to drag herself back to the peloton again to try and help her team. 

Attack

Attack

QoM (Côte des Forges)

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) is now pushing on solo. A very dangerous rider to allow up the road. She already has 17" on the bunch as the rain is absolutely tipping it down. 

20km to go

Attack in peloton

Crash!

Bike change

Into the final 15km and Justine Ghekiere (AGS) has 24" on the SD Worx-Protime led peloton. Onto the final climb of the day, Roche-aux-Faucons. 1.3km with an average gradient of 11% with a max of 14%. 

Bredewold (SDW) upping the pace dramatically for Vollering (SDW). She swings off and Vas (SDW) takes over. Fisher-Black also moving up. 

Attack

Vollering (SDW) now comes to the front herself to start setting the pace with riders being dropped all the time. 

Dropped

Only four riders at the front now as Ghekiere (AGS) is caught. The group is:

QoM (Roche-aux-Faucons)

EF-Oatly-Cannondale chasing behind for Rüegg and Faulkner. They are about 15" behind at the moment. 

Bonus sprint

10km to go

23" between the leaders and the chasers now. 

Vollering (SDW), Pieterse (FED) and Niewiadoma (CSR) have 32" on the chasing group now with 7km to go. 

5km to go

Into the final 4km and the leaders are extending their gap thanks to their superb descending skills. Vollering (SDW), Niewiadoma (CSR) and Pieterse (FED) are probably the best descenders in the peloton. 

3km to go and 33" between the leaders and the first chase group. A minute back to the Kerbaol (WNT) group. 

2km to go and the gap has apparently plummeted. Saying 27". How true that is I am not sure. 

Flamme Rouge

Attack

It's a photo finish!! It looks like it was Demi Vollering (SDW) stealing the victory from Puck PIeterse (FED) with Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) in third. Kim Le Court (AGS) leading in the chase group. 

For the moment, Puck Pieterse (FED) has been given the win but will that stand? It was so close on the line. 

Puck Pieterse (FED) wins stage four of the Tour de France 2024!! What a huge moment for the multi-discipline superstar. Her first road victory and it is on the biggest stage.  

Stage four top 10

General Classification after stage four

Not only did Puck Pieterse (FED) win the stage, she moves into second place on GC, takes the polka dot jersey and the white jersey as well. A truly perfect day for the Fenix-Deceuninck squad. 

And our post race report is ready for you to read! Make sure you keep going back to it as more information and reaction will be added as the afternoon goes on...

Demi Vollering (SDW) extended her lead in the yellow jersey standings on stage four. 

Puck Pieterse (FED) goes into the polka dot jersey by just one point over Silvia Persico (UAD). 

Puck Pieterse (FED) also goes into white. This is her big goal for this race, as well as a stage. She has the stage and wears white and polka dots. So, not bad so far. 

Charlotte Kool (DFP) extended her lead over Marianne Vos (TVL), Lorena Wiebes (SDW) and the rest after taking second place in today's intermediate sprint. 

Justine Ghekiere (AGS) won the most combative rider award after a gutsy attack over the Cote des Forges. I would have thought it would've gone to Sara Martin (MOV) after having most of the day out front on her own. 

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