Team Visma | Lease a Bike keeps leader’s jersey after chaotic fourth stage at Flèche du Sud
# Team Visma | Lease a Bike Maintains Lead After Turbulent Fourth Stage at Flèche du Sud
In a dramatic turn of events during the fourth stage of the Flèche du Sud, Team Visma | Lease a Bike managed to retain the leader’s jersey despite facing a challenging situation. A motorbike guiding the peloton inadvertently veered into the team car deviation, causing a significant portion of the riders to follow suit, including members of Team Visma.
This unexpected detour prevented the team from effectively contesting the sprint for the stage victory, despite having a full lead-out train set up for their sprinter, Matthew Brennan, as they approached the finish line. Reflecting on the incident, sport director Gaëtan Pons remarked, “We lost an opportunity for the victory because of this.”
Following discussions with the race jury, it was ultimately decided that all riders would be awarded the same finishing time. Consequently, the general classification remained unchanged, allowing Matisse Van Kerckhove to maintain the leader’s jersey with a five-second lead heading into tomorrow’s final stage.
Looking forward, Pons commented on the upcoming challenge: “Tomorrow’s closing stage promises to be another very nervous day. Especially the technical finale with many corners could create extra stress in the peloton. Within the team, the full focus is on securing the overall classification with the young Belgian rider.”
As the team prepares for the final leg of the race, all eyes will be on Matisse Van Kerckhove as he aims to cement his position at the top of the general classification.
### Stage 4 Results Summary:
1. **Marcus Sander Hansen** – BHS – PL Beton Bornholm (00:00:00)
2. **Matisse Van Kerckhove** – Team Visma | Lease a Bike (+00:00:05)
3. **Mats Wenzel** – Luxembourg (+00:00:05)
4. **Anton Schiffer** – Team Visma | Lease a Bike (+00:00:05)
14. **Elliot Rowe** – Team Visma | Lease a Bike (+00:00:34)
26. **Tijmen Graat** – Team Visma | Lease a Bike (+00:01:35)
64. **Matthew Brennan** – Team Visma | Lease a Bike (+00:13:06)
103. **Cedric Keppens** – Team Visma | Lease a Bike (+00:25:23)
With a mixture of concern and determination, Team Visma | Lease a Bike looks ahead to the decisive final stage, prepared to tackle both the course’s technical challenges and the pressure of leadership.
