Critérium du Dauphiné 2016 Stage 4: Boasson Hagen outsprints Alaphilippe, Froome closes in on Contador

Stage 4 of the Critérium du Dauphiné leads from Tain-l'Hermitage to Belley. On the slightly uphill arrival Edvald Boasson Hagen outsprints Julian Alaphilippe and Nacer Bouhanni. Contador retains in the overall lead, yet Chris Froome closes in on him as he benefits from a late split in the peloton and now is only 4 seconds behind. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Critérium du Dauphiné

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
3. Nacer Bouhanni (fra) s.t.
4. Jens Debusschere (bel) s.t.
5. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
6. Samuel Dumoulin (fra) s.t.
7. Jens Keukeleire (bel) s.t.
8. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
9. Sam Bennett (irl) s.t.
10. Luka Pibernik (slo) s.t.

14. Chris Froome (gbr) s.t.
20. Daniel Martin (irl) s.t.
29. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.09
31. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.

GC after 4th stage
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 0.04
3. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.06
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.09
5. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.12
6. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 0.27
7. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.31
8. Diego Rosa (ita) + 0.35
9. Daniel Navarro (spa) + 0.43
10. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 0.48

16. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 1.02
17. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.03
19. Romain Bardet (fra) s.t.
27. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.15

Race report
Once the flag is dropped Frederik Veuchelen, Maxime Bouet and Bryan Nauleau jump clear. The peloton takes it easy and the trio races to a 5 minutes gap with 20 kms done. There it lingers for a while before the pack brings the gap down to 4 minutes after 60 kms. That's the new status quo for dozens of kilometres.

With 13 kms left the gain is down to under 1 minute when Bouet goes solo. Yet, he is brought back with 4 kms left.

Boasson Hagen is fastest on the curcy and slightly uphill arival, albeit Alaphiippe come sclose with a might jump. The young Frenchman takes a time bonus and now sits in fourth.

All top-10 riders, save for Froome and Dan Martin, are behind a late split in the peloton and they finish 9 seconds down.