Belgian Wout Van Aert celebrated his latest Tour de France trick by flapping arms as he crossed the line, claiming: “The Yellow Jersey gives you wings.”
After a mountain stage triumph on Mount Ventoux, a time trial and denying Mark Cavendish sprint immortality on the Champs Elysees, all-rounder Van Aert added a stunning solo breakaway to his repertoire by winning stage four on the Tour de France. He had been second in all three stages on the Grand Depart in Denmark, but a kick for home six miles out on the horseshoe-shaped ride from Dunkirk to Calais left a fractured peloton in Van Aert's wake.
Embarrassed compatriot Jasper Philipsen emerged from the pack to win a bunch sprint for second, celebrating animatedly until the penny dropped that Van Aert had already cruised home hundreds of yards up the road. Van Aert had lamented it was "not funny any more" after being pipped by Fabio Jakobsen and Dylan Groenewegen in back-to-back sprint finishes over the weekend – but he made no mistake this time.
