Mads Pedersen won the fourth stage of the Tour de France on July 7, 2026, completing a grueling 182 km route from Carcassonne to Foix in temperatures reaching 40°C. The Lidl-Trek cyclist celebrated his victory as Torstein Traeen of Norway captured the coveted yellow jersey, overtaking reigning champion Tadej Pogacar.
Mads Pedersen's Impressive Sprint Finish
Petersen's win came after he outpaced his teammate Quinn Simmons in a thrilling sprint finish. This victory marks Pedersen's third stage win at the Tour, following his previous successes in 2022 and 2023. He also secured the green points jersey for his performance.
Pedersen's strategy was crucial during the final stretch, as he launched his sprint 300 meters from the finish line, leaving his competitors trailing behind. Following him, Simmons finished second, while Spanish rider Raul Garcia secured third place.
Torstein Traeen Takes the Yellow Jersey
Traeen, who started the day over five minutes behind Pogacar, was part of an early 34-man breakaway that emerged around 25 km into the stage. Despite finishing in eighth place, Traeen's overall time now places him 28 seconds ahead of American Sean Quinn, who finished ninth.
