Stage 4 of the ZLM Tour covers 210 km in a loop departing and arriving in Schijndel, the Netherlands, on a flat profile perfectly suited to a bunch sprint. With no significant climbing to whittle down the peloton, expect a large fast group to contest the finish and team lead-outs to dominate the final kilometers. The 2.1-class field is stacked with dedicated sprinters and their support riders.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Jason Tesson is in a class of his own here based on recent similar-profile form. His win in stage 2 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes, combined with multiple other top finishes on flat terrain, makes him the clear favorite for a bunch sprint in Schijndel.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jason Tesson is the standout favorite here: he has won stage 2 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes in similar flat sprint finishes recently, backing it up with two top-3s and five top-10s in comparable races. His sprint pedigree is among the best in this field and his recent form on flat profiles is unmatched in the startlist.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Danny van Poppel and Max Walscheid are proven sprint finishers with wins and podiums in comparable races over the past 90 days. Both have the experience and team backing to lead a sprint train and challenge Tesson at the line.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Danny van Poppel won stage 5 of the Sibiu Cycling Tour recently and has three top-5s in similar-profile races, making him a genuine threat at the line. As one of the most experienced sprinters in the field and an Epic-rarity card, he has the tools to challenge Tesson head-to-head.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Max Walscheid has a top-3 and three top-10s in flat sprint races over the past 90 days, underlining his consistency as a finisher. His well-rounded profile and solid sprint ability make him a reliable threat for the podium in Schijndel.
★★
Dark Horses
Anthony Turgis, Gerben Thijssen, and Mathias Vacek all have recent top finishes on flat profiles and arrive in form. They represent the tier most likely to benefit if the favorites are caught out by positioning or a late split in the peloton.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Anthony Turgis has been remarkably consistent on flat profiles lately, racking up six top-10s without yet converting one into a win or podium — but his volume of near-misses signals a rider in good shape. He arrives at ZLM Tour listed among the confirmed starters and could finally break through.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Gerben Thijssen has a top-5 finish in a similar-profile race recently and represents Alpecin-Premier Tech alongside strong support options. His sprint is capable and his hills score gives him the versatility to survive any minor undulations before the finale.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Mathias Vacek is an Epic-rarity all-rounder with a top-5 result in a comparable flat race recently and consistently appears in top-10s. His well-rounded stats and Lidl-Trek support make him a dark horse who can contend if the sprint gets disrupted.
★
Ones to Watch
Nils Eekhoff, Lionel Taminiaux, Tim van Dijke, and Simon Dehairs are all capable of a surprise result but lack the volume of recent top finishes to be rated higher. Any of them could steal a place if the sprint becomes chaotic or the lead-out trains break down.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Lionel Taminiaux has featured in flat sprint finishes recently with a top-10 to his name and brings Lotto Intermarché muscle to the sprint train. He is worth watching as an outside bet if the big names cancel each other out.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Nils Eekhoff has a top-10 in a similar-profile race and is confirmed for ZLM Tour, bringing local Dutch knowledge and a solid sprint to the table. He is capable of sneaking into the top results if Picnic PostNL can position him well.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Simon Dehairs has a top-10 in a similar flat-profile race recently and is one of the better-value picks in the Alpecin-Premier Tech squad. His sprint ability is competitive in this field and he warrants inclusion as an outsider in a bunch kick.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Tim van Dijke is an Epic-rarity rider with strong cobbles and hills scores who is confirmed for ZLM Tour. He could be used as a lead-out for van Poppel or emerge as a surprise finisher in his own right.
Verdict
Jason Tesson enters as the top favorite on the back of his recent flat-stage win and outstanding consistency in similar races, while Danny van Poppel and Max Walscheid are the most dangerous challengers in what should be a high-speed bunch sprint in Schijndel.