Tour de France: Pedersen's powerful return, Traeen makes history, Vauquelin back, Simmons fined

Danish sprinter Mads Pedersen achieved his third career stage victory in the Tour de France on Tuesday, marking a triumphant return after being sidelined by the Lidl-Trek team the previous year. While the sprint finish was anticipated in the final straight, Pedersen demonstrated his all-around capabilities on the hilly fourth stage.

The stage presented a challenging profile, including two categorized climbs and a total elevation gain of 2,750 meters. This demanding terrain allowed Pedersen to prove his versatility, excelling not only in the sprint but also in navigating the undulating course.

In other developments, Torstein Traeen of Uno-X Mobility claimed the yellow jersey, marking a historic first for his team. Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates opted not to control the stage, allowing their rivals to contest the win and enabling Pogacar to shed his yellow and green jerseys to conserve energy.

Kévin Vauquelin showed a return to form after a difficult start to the race, making a late move in the final corner. Although his sprint was launched too early against the powerful Pedersen, his attempt signaled a recovery in his performance. Spectator Quinn Simmons faced a potential penalty from the UCI for raising his arms in celebration before crossing the finish line, a gesture that could be penalized under recent regulations.