Paris-Nice 2014 - Stage 4

The fourth stage of the 72nd running of Paris-Nice was the hilliest thus far, and was 201.5 kilometres froms Nevers to Belleville. Nice weather greeted the peloton, but they were facing into a tough day, with four categorised ascents in the last sixty four kilometres. The stage was ripe for breakaways, and it was not surprising when a four man move broke away early on.

Perrig Quemeneur was on the attack for the second day running, and he was joined by Astana's Valerio Agnoli, Movistar's Spanish champion Jesus Herrada and Laurent Didier, the Luxembourger on the Trek Factory Racing team. Their lead reached six minutes at one point during the stage, forcing Giant-Shimano to do work on the front in aide of their race leader John Degenkolb.

Sky Procycling began to help Giant-Shimano, and then when the Category 2 ascent of Cote du Mont Brouilly, AG2R La Mondiale began to try and set up the situation for their Colombian Carlos Betancur. When the summit was close, Tom-Jelte Slagter of Garmin-Sharp attacked, and dragged Sky's leader Geraint Thomas along with him.

More splits occurred in the rest of the peloton, and some smooth teamwork from Slagter and Thomas assurred they alone would contest the stage win. Geraint Thomas opened up the sprint, but it was Slagter who took the stage after powering around the strong Welshman. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin, Slagter's former team) placed third, leading home a 27 man group.

John Degenkolb finished in the next group on the road, which was not enough to retain his leader's jersey, which was then passed onto the runner up on the day's stage Geraint Thomas. Thomas is proving himself as a capable general classification contender in the absence of more tested teammates Christopher Froome and Richie Porte.