Nicolas Roche falls short of Tour de France yellow jersey, though he and Dan Martin nudge higher overall

Dan Matin (centre) leads home his Garmin-Sharp sqaud. which took 6th place in today's TTT in Nice.

By Gavin McLoughlin

It was a question of mixed emotions for Ireland’s Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin after stage 4 of the Tour de France today, Tuesday.

Roche began the morning as the highest placed member of the Saxo-Tinkoff squad in the overall standings, just one second off the race lead. This meant that if his outfit had won the 25 kilometre team time trial around the streets of Nice and the Irishman was first over the line, Roche would have become the first Irish yellow jersey wearer since his father’s famous overall victory in 1987.

The Irishman’s team turned in a very strong performance but ultimately finished in fourth place on the day with a time of 26:05, 9 seconds behind stage winners Orica-Green Edge.

Though he will not wear yellow tomorrow, the result elevates Roche into 9th place on general classification, 9 seconds behind new race-leader Simon Gerrans (Orica-Green Edge).

Martin’s Garmin-Sharp squad were tipped by many to win today, but they could only manage 6th on the day with a time of 26:13.

However, the Irishman only lost a handful of seconds to overall favourites Chris Froome and Alberto Contador and is well placed on general classification. Martin will begin stage 5 in 19th place, 17 seconds off the lead of Gerrans.

Today the teams were asked to negotiate a 25 kilometre route around the picturesque city in the south of France. Care was needed in some tricky corners in the early sections of the course before the riders turned on to the famous Promenade des Anglais.

With 71 riders beginning the morning just one second off the lead, the yellow jersey was up for grabs and this was certain to provide plenty of extra motivation. Omega Pharma-Quick Step were second off the start ramp and the World Team Time Trial Champions set an ominous time of 25:57.

Martin’s Garmin-Sharp outfit were the last winners of a Tour de France team time trial, and the Irishman’s squad went off sixth. The Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner ultimately led his team over the line but they were unable to repeat the triumph of 2011.

Irish attention then turned to Roche and the Saxo-Tinkoff train looked efficiently organised, with the riders swapping turns smoothly as they powered along the Promenade.

Inside the final kilometre and when the timing graphic flashed up on screen it looked like it would be agonisingly close. The navy and yellow clad contingent stamped hard on the pedals but it was not to be and they ultimately crossed the line eight seconds off a lead still held at that point by Omega Pharma-Quick Step.

But glory was to elude the Belgians as Orica-Green Edge would ultimately knock them off top spot by a single second. The result was the latest chapter in an eventful opening few days of their race, with their team bus becoming stuck under the finishing gantry on Saturday and Gerrans taking a great sprint win yesterday.

Stage 5 tomorrow is a 229 kilometre run from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille. Though there are hills dotted all the way along the route, it does not look arduous enough to prevent the fast men from contesting the finish. Thursday also looks suited to the sprinters so the goal for the Irish duo will be to hold station over the next two days.

@gavmcloughlin

Stage 4: Team Time Trial, Nice (25km)

1 Orica Greenedge 0:25:56

2 Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:00:01

3 Sky Procycling 0:00:03

4 Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:09

5 Lotto-Belisol 0:00:17

6 Garmin - Sharp 0:00:17

7 Movistar Team 0:00:20