In Stage Four, Tour de France Becomes Tour de Frenchmen
LAC DE MADINE, France — France’s Cyril Saugrain won Wednesday’s fourth stage of the Tour de France and countryman Stephane Heulot jumped to the overall lead.
Both riders were part of a five-man break that finished more than four minutes ahead of the main pack of riders in the flat 143.8-mile stage from Soissons to Lac de Madine.
Saugrain and Heulot are each racing in their first Tour de France.
“For the team, it’s extraordinary to win a tour stage,†said Saugrain, whose Aubervilliers 93 squad was a last-minute entry into this year’s race.
“It’s a dream to win a Tour de France stage,†said Saugrain, 23. “I began to think about the win at 25 kilometers to go; maybe we could hold onto it.â€
Five-time defending Tour champion Miguel Indurain lost nearly three minutes in Wednesday’s stage and dropped to 11th overall, 4:17 behind. American Lance Armstrong finished with Indurain and is 54th overall at 5:03.
Heulot started Wednesday’s stage 43 seconds back and took the overall lead from countryman Frederic Moncassin in the stage marred by a crash in the final sprint with the main pack of riders.
Czech Jan Svorada nipped a tire in the final 100 yards and went down hard, taking out three other riders with him.
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