Torstein Traeen takes yellow jersey after Mads Pedersen wins Tour de France stage 4
Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de France ran from Carcassonne to Foix, covering 181.9 km in hot weather. A breakaway of about 30‑34 riders formed early, and the Danish rider Mads Pedersen (Lidl‑Trek) timed his attack perfectly, winning the sprint ahead of teammate Quinn Simmons and Spain’s Raúl García Pierna. Pedersen also claimed the green points jersey with 50 points earned at the finish.
Norwegian Torstein Traeen (Uno‑X Mobility) seized the overall lead when his team allowed the break to go, taking the yellow jersey for the first time in his career and becoming only the third Norwegian to wear it. Team UAE Team Emirates, led by defending champion Tadej Pogačar, did not chase, leaving Pogačar in fourth place 7 minutes 53 seconds behind Traeen. Jonas Vingegaard remained in the top five. The strategic decision by UAE to conserve energy was praised as a tactical move that reshaped the general classification early in the race. Traeen’s ascent to the lead follows his personal comeback after a testicular‑cancer diagnosis, adding a human‑interest dimension to the sporting milestone.