Feature photo and the one above courtesy of @getty images with thanks

Less than a year ago, Mark Cavendish was one heap of misery. He cried tears after Gent-Wevelgem because after a few weak years his career seemed to be over. Patrick Lefevere took the gamble by bringing him back to the old nest and that gamble is now paying off. Six years after his last victory in the Tour for Quick-Step, he wins again in Fougères, his 31st victory in the Tour. “I am not the biggest fan of Patrick as a person, but I have to respect the way he builds a team and how they respond. The way he is handling the Sam Bennett situation is wrong as a Team boss, publicly criticising Sam on TV is not needed like yesterday, but hey I am maybe biased…lol…His Wolfpack train just out of this world, and that makes up for it a bit” Brent Van Moer (Lotto-Soudal) should certainly not go unmentioned here. He himself set up a seemingly hopeless flight. In the final, he shook off fellow escapee Périchon. He fought his way to the finish line with determination. Only 200 meters from the finish did the sprinters fall on his neck in kamikaze style. At least he can claim the Combativity prize of the day!! Tomorrow we will have a first chance for the time testers. Mathieu van der Poel defends his yellow jersey, but Wout van Aert is lurking. Can he take over the scepter in Lava..I think he can! 

               Stage 4 result: Winner Mark Cavendish  DQT 150km in 3:20:17

2 Nacer Bouhanni ARK +0
3 Jasper Philipsen AFC +0
4 Michael Matthews BEX +0
5 Peter Sagan BOH +0
6 Cees Bol DSM +0
7 Christophe Laporte COF +0
8 Mads Pedersen TFS +0
9 Boy van Poppel IWG +0
10 André Greipel ISN +0

Photo courtesy of @AP (sporza website)

1.VAN DER POEL Mathieu Alpecin-Fenix 16:19:10
2. ALAPHILIPPE Julian Deceuninck – Quick Step + 0:08
3.CARAPAZ Richard INEOS Grenadiers + 0:31
4.VAN AERT Wout Team Jumbo-Visma @s/t
5.KELDERMAN Wilco BORA – Hansgrohe + 0:38
6.POGAČAR Tadej UAE-Team Emirates + 0:39
7.MAS Enric Movistar Team + 0:40
8.QUINTANA Nairo Team Arkéa Samsic @s/t
9.LATOUR Pierre Team Total Energies + 0:45
10.GAUDU David Groupama – FDJ + 0:52

Top 8 Stage wins TDF : 34: Eddy Merckx (Bel) 1969 -1975
31: Mark Cavendish (GBr) 2008 – 2021 (still active)
28: Bernard Hinault (Fra) 1978- 1986
25: André Leducq (Fra) 1927-1938
22: André Darrigade (Fra) 1953 – 1964
20: Nicolas Frantz (Lux) 1924 -1929
19: François Faber (Lux) 1908 -1914
17: Jean Alavoine (Fra) 1909 – 1923