Today’s fourth stage of the Tour de France was a 25 kilometer long and flat team time trial around Nice. Omega-Pharma Quickstep was the fastest team at the finish line.
Saxo-Tinkoff rode an excellent team time trial and was the first intermediate second best with under two seconds to Omega-Pharma Quickstep. At the finish line they were third best with a time loss of eight seconds to Omega-Pharma Quickstep and just six seconds to Team Sky in second place.But Orica-Green Edge surprised everyone by running a second faster than Omega-Pharma Quickstep and take the victory.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff ended in fourth place: “I am quite pleased with the boys efforts today. They are exactly where they should be, and now they got to see they are just as good as the strongest to start. It gives us renewed confidence, not least for the riders, but also reinforced the belief that this can be done. Tomorrow is a long stage where we do not have to sit at the front dragging defectors in, but we can afford to keep a little in the background, but at the same time make sure that Alberto safely across the finish line, “said Team Saxo -Tinkoff’s Fabrizio Guidi.
Saxo-Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador commented: “The overall favorites ended very close, and only seconds separating us, which is good for the race. It is always good that we are all close together, and it makes the race more worth seeing for the fans. It was a good day for us. Of course it is always better to finish ahead of our rivals, but I am very happy because the team proved immensely strong. We went full throttle, and the result allows us to continue all options open in the standings. The main thing now is that Benji (Noval) recover from today’s accident. He is a very important rider for me and for the team, “said Saxo-Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador. Tomorrow, Team Saxo- Tinkoff and the rest of the field recuperate with a stage of 230 km with four categorized climbs. Simon Gerrans (Orica-Green Edge) now leads overall.
