Nordic joy as Traeen takes yellow, Pedersen wins Tour de France 4th stage

Norwegian Torstein Traeen claimed the coveted race leader’s yellow jersey as Denmark’s Mads Pedersen won the fourth stage of the Tour de France on a day of Nordic delight on Tuesday.

Traeen stripped reigning champion Tadej Pogacar of the jersey just two days after Norway stunned five-time winners Brazil at the World Cup thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland.

“Football is pretty big and I’ve seen how they are rowing in front of the castle and everything… it’s a big public party and we’re obviously doing pretty well,” Traeen said about the football team’s success.

“So all I’m dreaming about now is to have a Norway jersey with my name on the back so I can wear it for the next game!”

Pedersen, who was world champion in 2019, stormed to victory in a sprint finish ahead of Lidl-Trek team-mate Quinn Simmons in second with Spaniard Raul Garcia taking third at the end of the 182km stage from Carcassonne to Foix in scorching temperatures which topped 40C at one point.

It was Pedersen’s third stage victory at the Tour following one each in 2022 and 2023 and was enough to see him take the green points jersey.