Critérium du Dauphiné 2014 Stage 4: Montélimar - Gap

Wednesday, June 11 – The stage to Gap is a sprinter’s dream. That is, a dream for sprinters who manage to stay in touch on climbs like the Col de Manse. Last year the Tour de France had a stage finish here with the now World Champion Rui Costa taking the win. (Slideshow route/profile)

Critérium du Dauphiné 2014 Stage 4 Montélimar - Gap

The organization claims this to be a sprinter stage, but what about Col de Manse? The fast men will have a hard time getting over that one. It’s a category 2 climb, 9.5 kilometres long at 5.2%. No doubt attackers will try to drop the sprinters on these slopes as the top is only 12.5 kilometres from the finish line in Gap.

Earlier in the race (after 80.5 kilometres), the Côte de Rosans is the first hurdle, category 4 climb. It's mainly rolling terrain from there and never quite flat.

The stage looks set for a rider like John Degenkolb, Peter Sagan or Michael Mattews, classics specialists who can climb well and have a fast finish.

The stage starts at 10:40 (CET) and the finish is expected around 14:40.