Reigning Olympic time trial champion Remco Evenepoel should be a major factor in Caen as Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel battle for overall lead.

Happy anniversary to the King of the Mountains: Since 1975, the winner of the mountains classification has donned the polka dot jersey, white with red spots in an effort by sponsor Chocolat Poulain to make it stand out from the rest of the peloton as much as possible.

There are four different jerseys used to differentiate the classifications at the Tour de France. These are yellow, green, polka-dot and white and are handed out at the end of each stage with the leader in each category wearing it during the next stage.

Three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar won Stage 4 after several late climbs and inched closer to yellow jersey holder Mathieu van der Peul.

A three-week Grand Tour will always contain natural ebbs and flows, and, for much of Monday’s stage between Valenciennes and Dunkirk, it looked as if the peloton had declared an unofficial rest day, with the riders happy to cruise back towards the coast after a weekend of wind, rain and intensity.

Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen has had successful surgery after breaking a collarbone during the crash-marred third stage of the Tour de France.

Tour de France kicks off on July 5 in Lille, France, with eyes on Tadej Pogačar for his fourth career title and second consecutive yellow jersey.

It is sometimes taken as a given that a lack of success has inhibited the nation's enthusiasm for its home race. Not a bit of it