Arnaud Démare (FDJ) has won the fourth stage of the 2013 Tour de Suisse.
The 21-year-old won a bunch kick at the end of the 161km stage from Innertkirchen to Buochs.
Démare, overall winner of last month’s Four Days of Dunkrik, held off the challenge of second placed Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp), who was third.
He said: “This victory is in the top five of my victories because winning in the WorldTour is always huge. And then the Tour of Switzerland goes well for us with Thibaut Pinot fifth overall. All is well!”
Jens Voigt (Radioshack-Leopard) would have been a popular winner had he remained clear for just two kilometres more.
The veteran, won of the best-loved riders in the peloton, broke clear in a three-man escape group that included Olivier Kaisen (Lotto Belisol) and Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Robert Vrecer.
As they passed beneath the 5km to go banner, only Voigt and Vrecer remained ahead, and with 2km to go, the popular German began his bid for victory.
Voigt fell victim to their combined efforts of Cannondale Pro Cycling and Omega Pharma-QuickStep, riding for Peter Sagan and Tom Boonen respectively. Their efforts to place their men came to nought, however.
Stage three winner, Sagan, a rider better known for his sprint, but who won yesterday after surviving a first category climb in the company of GC contenders, could only manage seventh today, and Boonen failed to crack the top 10.
Orica-GreenEDGE deployed their considerable resources in support of Goss in the final kilometre, but the Australian was outfoxed by Démare, who timed his effort for the final 200 metres.
Mathias Frank (BMC Racing) continues to lead the race by 23 seconds from Roman Kreuziger (Saxo Tinkoff) after a day of stalemate between the riders contesting overall victory.
Tomorrow’s 176.4km stage will take the riders from Buochs to another sprinter-friendly finish in Leuggern.
Tour de Suisse 2013: stage four – result
1) Arnaud Demare (FDJ) – 4.08.23
2) Matt Goss (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE – ST
3) Tyler Farrar (USA) – Garmin-Sharp
4) John Degenkolb (GER) – Argos-Shimano
5) Alexander Kristoff (NOR) – Katusha
6) Heinrich Haussier (AUS) – IAM Cycling
7) Peter Sagan (SLO) – Cannondale Pro Cycling
8) Jens Debusschere (BEL) – Lotto-Belisol
9) Davide Cimolai (ITA) – Lampre-Merida
10) Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA) – Astana
General classification
1) Mathias Frank (SUI) – BMC Racing – 11.48.01
2) Roman Kreuziger (CZE) – Saxo-Tinkoff +23″
3) Rui Costa (POR) – Movistar +35″
4) Giovanni Visconti (ITA) – Movistar +53″
5) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ + 57″
6) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Blanco Pro Cycling +1.08
7) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Garmin-Sharp – 1.23
8) Tanel Kangert (EST) – Astana +1.26
9) Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +1.28
10) Tejay Van Garderen (USA) – BMC Racing +1.39
