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

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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...

>>> 'Emotion is my power' - Feelings run high as Demi Vollering takes yellow in front of home crowds at Tour de France Femmes

The jerseys going into stage four:

Yellow - Demi Vollering (SDW)
Green - Charlotte Kool (DFP)
Polka dots - Cristina Tonetti (LAB)
White - Anniina Ahtosalo (UXM)

>>> The current GC standings at the Tour de France Femmes 2024

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

Chloe Dygert (CSR) shared her disappointment after she was beaten by Demi Vollering (SDW) in a time trial for the very first time...

>>> ‘Just didn't have a good day’ - ITT World Champion Chloé Dygert not strong enough to deny Vollering at Tour de France Femmes

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

>>> Power naps, spectators' delight, staff headaches: How the double stage day at the Tour de France Femmes played out

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...

>>> Vuelta a España 2024 – Analysing the contenders

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

The riders have started the neutral zone.

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 flag is waved by Marion Rousse and the racing is underway for stage four of the Tour de France Femmes 2024.

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

Martina Alzini (COF)

Not the ideal start for the Italian rider who finished ninth on stage two yesterday morning.

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)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 2pts
2. Quinty Ton (NED) Lotto-DSTNY 1pt

Persico (UAD) now level on points with Tonetti (LAB).

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

QoM (Cauberg)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 3pts
2. Yara Kastelijn (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck 2pts
3. Sofia Bertizzolo (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 1pt

Persico (UAD) now leads the QoM standings and is looking to take control of the jersey.

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)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 2pts
2. Justine Ghekiere (BEL) AG Insurance-Soudal 1pt

100km to go

It is back to the Bemelerberg for one last ascent and more points before a period of no QoM or intermediate sprints. The intermediate sprint comes in around 45km.

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)

1. Silvia Persico (ITA) UAE Team ADQ 2pts
2. Yara Kastelijn (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck 1pt

That is 100% of the QoM sprints won by Persico (UAD) in this early part of the stage. Four climbs still to come.

Split in peloton

A group of about 10 riders have pulled out a gap of around 10" on the peloton. No confirmed riders in the group but Persico (UAD) and Kastelijn (FED) are almost certainly in it as it formed on the Bemelerberg climb.

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

Mechanical

Ane Santesteban (LAB)

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

Abandon

Martina Alzini (COF)

The Italian rider was dropped on the first climb of the day and has not recovered. A shame for Cofidis' sprinter.

Dropped from peloton

Silvestri (LAB)
Santesteban (LAB)
Pikulik (HPH)
Roussel (AUB)
Misyurina (TCF)
Coles-Lyster (CGS)

Santesteban is, of course, trying to come back from her mechanical. They are about a minute down at the moment.

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

Attack

Sara Martín (MOV)

The Spanish rider has a gap of 10" on the peloton at the moment.

90km to go

The peloton is absolutely flying at the moment with it in one long line but Sara Martín (MOV) still holds her 10" lead.

Martín (MOV) stretches her lead to 25".

Rear puncture

Ane Santesteban (LAB)

The luck is not on the Spanish rider's ride today.

Some fantastic crowds out on course today...

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

80km to go

Martín (MOV) making good progress in her solo move. Now leading by 1'15" over the peloton.

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!

Laura Tomasi (LAB)

The Italian is looking to bridge to gap to Martín (MOV) up the road.

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

70km to go

Martín (MOV) has Tomasi (LAB) chasing at +40" with the peloton +1'04" down on the lader.

Mechanical

Karlijn Swinkels (UAD)

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

Laura Tomasi (LAB)

60km to go

The pace is so high in the peloton and the time gap up to Martín (MOV) is falling with it standing at 48" for the moment.

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

Neve Bradbury (CSR)
Chloe Dygert (CSR)

Nightmare moment for two key riders for Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR). Neither of them looking comfortable on the wet descents.

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

Maggie Coles-Lyster (CGS)

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

The race has been stopped due to a level crossing. Not see this for a long time. Sara Martín (MOV) will be allowed the gap that she had over the peloton again when they are able to restart.

Back racing

The riders are riding once more as Sara Martín (MOV) will re-establish her gap.

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

The gap is now sat at around 50".

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

Caught

Martín (MOV) is caught

Ghekiere (AGS) and Kastelijn (FED) trying to join. All back together again.

All the main favourites are right up towards the front.

QoM (Mont-Theux)

1. Yara Kastelijn (FED) 3pts
2. Justine Ghekiere (BEL) AG Insurance-Soudal 2pts

Waiting to see who took the one point.

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

Green and white jerseys, Kool (DFP) and Ahtosalo (UXM) along with several other riders as the climbs start to bite.

Intermediate sprint result (Pepinster)

1. Sara Martín (MOV) 25pts
2. Charlotte Kool (DFP) 20pts
3. Lorena Wiebes (SDW) 17pts
4. Marianne Vos (TVL) 15pts
5. Rachele Barbieri (DFP) 13pts
6. Fem van Empel (TVL) 11pts
7. Anniina Ahtosalo (UXM) 10pts
8. Lizzie Deignan (LTK) 9pts
9. Anna Henderson (TVL) 8pts
10. Silke Smulders (LAJ) 7pts
11. Barbara Guarischi (SDW) 6pts
12. Linda Riedmann (TVL) 5pts
13. Pfeiffer Georgi (DFP) 4pts
14. Sophie von Berswordt (TVL)
15. Gaia Realini (LTK) 2pts

40km to go

The riders are now on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege course as they start the rapid descent to start the Cote de la Redoute. 1.6km at 9.4% average gradient. Lidl-Trek leading the way.

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)

1. Puck Pieterse (FED) 5pts
2. Demi Vollering (SDW) 3pts
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) 2pts
4. Kim Le Court (AGS) 1pt

Dropped

Grace Brown (FST).

Attack

Kristen Faulkner (EFO)
Puck PIeterse (FED)

Very quickly closed down.

30km to go

A small gap starting to form for a group including Pieterse (FED), Lippert (MOV), Gigante (AGS), Ludwig (FST). Unsurprisingly it is very quickly closed.

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

Sarah Gigante (AGS)
Mavi Garcia (LAJ)

The move not being given an inch.

Attack

Justine Ghekiere (AGS)

She launches and Kastelijn (FED) can't follow.

QoM (Côte des Forges)

1. Justine Ghekiere (AGS) 3pts
2. Yara Kastelijn (FED) 2pts
3. Sarah Gigante (AGS) 1pt

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

Ghekiere (AGS) is looking good on the bike and is pushing on to, at least, take the points on the final climb of the day, the Roche-aux-Faucons.

Attack in peloton

Olivia Baril (MOV)

The Canadian champion rolls off the front in an attempt to close the gap to Justine Ghekiere (AGS) 23" up the road. But the peloton swiftly closes it down again.

Crash!

Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (FST)

She has a teammate with her to try and help her back into the bunch.

Bike change

Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (FST)

A swift change but an absolute disaster for the Danish rider. She has Amber Kraak supporting her.

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

Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW)
Magdeleine Vallieres (EFO)

But Vollering (SDW) closes it down.

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

Dropped

Riejanne Markus (TVL)
Anna Henderson (TVL)

That is a surprise.

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

Demi Vollering (SDW)
Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR)
Puck Pieterse (FED)
Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED)

QoM (Roche-aux-Faucons)

1. Puck Pieterse (FED) 5pts
2. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) 3pts
3. Demi Vollering (SDW) 2pts
4. Pauliena Rooijakkers (FED) 1pt

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

Bonus sprint

1. Demi Vollering (SDW) 6"
2. Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR) 4"
3. Puck Pieterse (FED) 2"

Rooijakkers (FED) caught by the chase group who are just 10" behind the leading trio.

10km to go

In the chase group riders are:

Faulkner (EFO)
Realini (LTK)
Van Anrooij (LTK)
De Jong (LTD)
Rüegg (EFO)
Meijering (MOV)
Labous (DFP)
Rooijakkers (FED)
Fisher-Black (SDW)
Vallieres (EFO)
Muzic (FST)

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

Vallieres and Faulkner are working for their EF-Oatly-Cannondale teammate, Rüegg to take the sprint. However, they need to close 27" gap.

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

Into the final 1000 metres of the stage in Liege. The weather is classic Ardennes weather. The riders at the front are the expected ones. But can Puck Pieterse (FED) take her first big road race victory ahead of two of the sport's biggest stars?

Attack

Kasia Niewiadoma (CSR)

500 metres to go but it is closed down.

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

1. Puck Pieterse (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck 3:12'28"
2. Demi Vollering (NED) SD Worx-Protime
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) Canyon-SRAM all S.T.
4. Kim Le Court (MAU) AG Insurance-Soudal +29"
5. Noemi Rüegg (SUI) EF-Oatly-Cannondale
6. Thalita De Jong (NED) Lotto-DSTNY
7. Évita Muzic (FRA) FDJ-Suez
8. Shirin van Anrooij (NED) Lidl-Trek
9. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) SD Worx-Protime
10. Mareille Meijering (NED) Movistar all S.T.

General Classification after stage four

1. Demi Vollering (NED) SD Worx-Protime 7:40'10"
2. Puck Pieterse (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck +22"
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) Canyon-SRAM +34"
4. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF-Oatly-Cannondale +47"
5. Juliette Labous (FRA) DSM-Firmenich-PostNL +56"
6. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED) Fenix-Deceuninck +1'03"
7. Kim Le Court (MAU) AG Insurance-Soudal S.T.
8. Thalita De Jong (NED) Lotto-DSTNY +1'04"
9. Cédrine Kerbaol (FRA) Ceratizit-WNT S.T.
10. Shirin van Anrooij (NED) Lidl-Trek +1'07"

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...

>>> Tour de France Femmes: Puck Pieterse stuns Vollering with first WorldTour victory in photo finish on stage 4

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.