The Quick-Step Floors rider has asserted his sprint dominance so far at the race, winning the second, sixth and seventh stages.

With a reduced field of sprinters on stage 10 following the injury to Britain’s Mark Cavendish, the disqualification of Slovakia’s Peter Sagan and France’s Arnaud Démare missing the time limit on stage nine, the German was tipped for further success today.

A sprint finish was on the cards when the peloton clawed back a two-man breakaway consisting of France’s Yoann Offredo and Elie Gesbert in the final kilometres of the 178km route from Périgueux to Bergerac.

Kittel powered through to comfortably win the sprint in a time of 4 hours and 1min, with fellow German John Degenkolb and The Netherlands’ Dylan Groenewegen over a bike length behind.

As well as a fourth victory of this year’s race, Kittel surpassed Erik Zabel’s German record of 12 stage wins at the Grand Tour, having matched it on Friday (July 7).

"Four stage wins in ten days is impressive," Kittel said, who retains the green jersey for points.

"Once again it's because of the great work of my team, what Julien Vermote does at the head of the peloton is absolutely incredible.

"I'm not thinking that I've won the green jersey yet.

"Even in stage 20 something can go wrong.

"Arnaud Démare is the best example of how the good work done before can be destroyed quickly, anything can happen at the Tour.

"But I think I'm in the best shape I've ever had since my very first Tour de France."

Britain’s Chris Froome also achieved a landmark, with the Team Sky rider set to wear the yellow jersey for a 50th stage having maintained his overall lead.

The three-time winner is 18sec clear of Italy’s Fabio Aru, while France’s Romain Bardet is third at 51sec behind the race leader.

The International Cycling Union WorldTour race is due continue tomorrow, with a 203km flat stage from Eymet to Pau.