2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Stage 4 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
After the lung-busting opening days and Tuesday's team time trial around Perreux, stage 4 hands the general classification men something close to a breather — but only if their teams keep the front of the race under control. This is a rolling 167.4km test, a race of two distinct halves. The opening section still contains plenty of climbing, with six categorised ascents stacked through the first two-thirds, before the final fifty kilometres turn virtually flat.
The early going is where the day is shaped. The first hundred kilometres throw up climbs like the Côte du Temple (5.7 km at 4.5%), the Col des Pradeaux (7.2 km at 5.2%) and the Col des Limites (3.7 km at 5.5%), with the Col de la Croix de l'Arbre, Côte de Chougoirand, Côte de Lérigneux and Côte de la Roche-en-Forez rounding out the categorised challenges. None is a monster, but the relentless up-and-down rhythm is exactly the terrain a strong breakaway wants. Once the last categorised climb is crested with just under 60 km remaining, the road tips down to Montverdun and a flat 30 km run-in sets up a high-speed chase to the line. The finish town itself, Montrond-les-Bains, is known for its medieval castle and thermal baths — a calm backdrop for what could be a frantic finale.
The central question is whether this becomes a bunch finish or a breakaway day. The flat second half theoretically hands the sprinters a rare opportunity in a Dauphiné short on them, but this is a peloton built around Tour de France GC preparation rather than fast-man firepower, so the chase teams may not be deep enough to guarantee a catch. Don't be surprised if a strong move slips clear over the early climbs and survives.
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