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Andréa Vendrame

"Today's objective was to win".

"I'm very happy with the result. We wanted to win today, so the whole team pulled out all the stops and we did what we had to do to win. It was a tough 240-kilometre stage in the rain and cold. The other teams set a steady pace and many riders attacked on the final climb. I stayed calm, though, because I'd spotted the finish and knew it was right for me. Nicolas (Prodhomme) placed me very well in the final. With 300 metres to go, I launched my sprint for victory. It's great and there are still some great opportunities to come over the next few days. It was our first success and, I hope, not our last.

The news

Dantesque conditions on stage 4, sports director Sébastien Joly's assessment

The stage took place in extreme conditions, with snow and hail. This type of situation always causes trouble. The organizer initially neutralized the race, which was the right decision in view of the conditions. It then took a long time for everyone to regroup, and the riders' representatives, including Oliver (Naesen), were unable to discuss the situation with the organizer, which was regrettable. It would have been preferable to start the riders off with a dummy start and then a real start. When we were informed that we'd be leaving in 2 minutes, we moved as quickly as possible so that the riders could leave in the best possible conditions, but they were inevitably surprised. This abrupt start wiped out any chance of a good result today. We're now going to concentrate on tomorrow's stage, which offers a tough finish with a profile that suits us well. Our leaders Felix (Gall) and Aurélien (Paret-Peintre) are in good form and we're going to do everything we can to help them perform.

Armand Thierry, new official partner of DECATHLON - AG2R LA MONDIALE

Armand Thierry has become the official lifestyle clothing supplier to the DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE teams for the next two years. The French brand will dress all riders, from juniors to professionals, in chic casual outfits outside the races. This partnership is based on shared values: the quest for performance, high standards, rigor and attention to detail.