Vodstvo dirke znova udarilo po UAE, Slovenec prejel kazen in rumeni karton

The fourth stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France took place under challenging conditions, marked by steep climbs in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This stage offered opportunities for escapees who excel on ascents, ultimately resulting in a decisive victory for Danish cyclist Mads Pedersen, who claimed his third stage win of the race. The UAE Team Emirates, however, found themselves relinquishing the yellow jersey after a strategic decision to pull back their lead, allowing other teams to take control of the situation. Meanwhile, Slovenian cyclist Jan Tratnik attempted a bold move but was forced into a compromise due to differing team strategies.

The stage began with a large group of over thirty riders leading the way, where Tratnik unexpectedly found himself in a breakaway group alongside Czech rider Mathias Vacek and Luxembourg's Alex Kirschen. Initially, Tratnik had been positioned as a support rider for Red Bull's captain, Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel, while also planning to collaborate with Bahrain's riders in pursuit of a stage win. However, things did not go according to plan for Tratnik, as he encountered difficulties during one of the crashes, yet managed to reach the finish line. His attempt to push further was thwarted when Lidl-Trek had different plans for their rider, which led to Tratnik being compelled to yield.

Pedersen praised the teamwork within his American squad, emphasizing that the success was more about collective effort than personal ability on the climb. He acknowledged the contributions of Vacek and Quinn Simmons, who were instrumental in helping him secure the victory. Pedersen expressed gratitude towards his sports director, Luc Geurcelin, for placing pressure on him early in the Tour, which he felt was a significant factor in achieving this success.

The heat posed challenges for Tadej Pogačar, who managed to survive in the shadow of the peloton. In the battle for the yellow jersey, a major shift occurred as the UAE Team Emirates pulled back, granting Viking an eight-minute advantage. Torsten Traen, who was inspired by his teammates' success in football against Brazil, expressed mixed feelings about the significance of the yellow jersey, acknowledging its importance even though he might feel the impact later.

Results from the fourth stage showed Pedersen finishing first, followed by Quinn Simmons and Raul Garica Pierna, all with the same time. Tratnik finished 26th, while Pogačar came in 33rd, and Matej Mohorič placed 66th. In terms of the overall standings, Traen led with a time of 13 hours, 2 minutes, and 46 seconds, followed by Sean Quinn and Mathias Vacek.

On another front, the leadership of the Tour faced repercussions as the UAE Team Emirates received financial penalties and disciplinary actions. Andrej Hauptman, the sports director of Tadej Pogačar, was fined 500 Swiss francs and given a yellow card for violating rules regarding vehicle movement during the race or disregarding instructions from officials and organizers. This incident highlights the strict enforcement of regulations by the International Cycling Union (UCI), which introduced the yellow card system in 2025 to penalize dangerous riding and rule violations. Accumulating two yellow cards on the same race leads to a seven-day ban and disqualification from the event.

The incident involving Hauptman coincided with a humorous moment shared by Pogačar on social media, where he appeared with a whistle in his mouth, engaging in a playful dialogue with someone in a car. This light-hearted exchange contrasted sharply with the serious nature of the sanctions imposed on the team. Despite these challenges, the UAE Team Emirates remains focused on establishing their dominance early in the Tour, with Pogačar continuing to wear the yellow jersey, symbolizing both the team's aspirations and the ongoing scrutiny they face throughout the competition.