Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Stage 4 - Trofimov escapes to victory

Juri Trofimov won stage 4 of the Criterium du Dauphine after attacking his breakaway companions with 18 kilometres remaining. Chris Froome remains in yellow after finishing in the main group. (Slideshow route/profile)

Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Results 4th stage

1. Joeri Trofimov (rus)
2. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) + 0.23
3. Pim Ligthart (Nld) + 0.25
4. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) + 0.28
5. Peter Velits (Svk) s.t
6. Maxim Bouet (fra) s.t.
7.Jan Bakelants (bel) s.t.
8. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t
9. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) + 1.31
10. Ryder Hesjedal (can) s.t.

GC after 4th stage
1. Chris Froome (gbr)
2. Alberto Contador (spa) + 0.10
3. Wilco Kelderman (Nld) + 0.21
4. Andrew Talansky (USA) + 0.33
5. Jurgen van den Broeck (bel) + 0.35
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.50
7. Maxime Bouet (fra) + 1.01
8. Haimar Zubeldia (spa) + 1.22
9. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
10. Adam Yates (gbr) + 1.31

Race report
Trofimov was part of a 13 man escape that also featured Maxime Bouet (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Andriy Grivko (Astana), Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Romain Sicard (Europcar), Pim Lightart (Lotto Belisol), Gustav Larsson (IAM Cycling), Damiano Caruso (Cannondale), Bob Jungels (Trek Factory Racing), Peter Velits (BMC), Lars-Petter Nordhaug (Belkin) and Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge).

Their lead never grew much more than 4 minutes but the peloton were not exactly over-eager to catch them either.

Sky controlled the day but obviously things weren’t too difficult as Hesjedal, Bardet and Van Garderen slipped away on the final climb and finished the stage 1.31 down on the victorious Trofimov and about 40 seconds ahead of Froome, Contador and the other contenders.