Stage Report: Aurélien Paret-Peintre gained the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia, ending in Lago Laceno. The Frenchman was a part of the ‘break of the day’ after which out-sprinted his fellow escapee Andreas Leknessund on the line. The stage went to the Frenchman and the Norwegian took the pink jersey from Remco Evenepoel.
The stage 4 route
A stage throughout the Apennines, taking in two lengthy and manageable ascents up the mountains of Basilicata. At first, the route runs alongside a quick street, then it tackles two categorised climbs, twisting repeatedly each up and down, with regular gradients round 5/6%. The final 15km rise steeply all the best way to the plateau, the place the street ranges out over the ultimate 4km.
Stage 4 profile
Closing kilometres
The Colle Molella climb (9.9km at 6.0%) ends 3km earlier than the end. Previous Bagnoli Irpino, the route ascends in hairpins for 3km, with gradients round 10% and peaking out at 12%. The final 3km are flat or slope downward, taking a large bend round Lago Laceno. The house straight (300m) is on 7m vast tarmac. Earlier than reaching Bagnoli Irpino, the route passes over the tracks of two inactive stage crossings, on a counter sloping stretch.
Remco prepared for a tough day
Remco Evenepoel has had the pink jersey because the first day of the Giro d’Italia, however he won’t have it tonight. “We are going to anticipate the primary kilometres and see the way it goes,” Evenepoel advised Het Nieuwsblad earlier than the beginning. “I count on a tough opening of the stage, so the end is tough sufficient. It goes actually steep for 3 kilometres, then a bit downhill and a flat end. It will likely be with a thinned peloton, however I don’t count on that there will likely be main variations.” What about his opponents? “They do certainly should make up for time and can due to this fact take each alternative. So as we speak and stage seven are the primary alternatives for them. For me it’s clear: observe, observe and observe once more. Assault your self? No, it’s too early for that. The street to Rome continues to be far, I nonetheless attempt to save my power as a lot as attainable, however alternatively, I’m not going to complain if I lose it (the pink jersey) tonight. Nonetheless, it’s not the intention that we let a bunch experience away for fifteen minutes as a result of there might be a powerful boy who can put on the jersey for a very long time.”
Primoz is calm
Will Primoz Roglič assault on the primary mountain stage? “When you have the legs, you possibly can at all times strive,” Roglič stated earlier than the beginning of the fourth stage. “However it’s important to be the perfect.” Roglič doesn’t appear to be frightened a lot. “All the things goes as deliberate. I have to be affected person and have religion. I’ve to do my finest. On the finish, the perfect wins. If I do my finest, I will likely be glad.” Does Roglič count on Evenepoel to ‘give’ the pink jersey away as we speak? “That’s not one thing I’ve to fret about. We’ve to concentrate on ourselves, on our process, and get via the day as finest we will.” Roglič expects a giant battle to get into the break of the day. “However the longer the battle, the sooner it goes and the shorter the stage. So there are additionally optimistic sides to it.”
Thibaut Pinot within the KOM jersey, however says it’s not an goal (but)
At the moment was the primary actual powerful stage that may present how the GC riders is likely to be going on this Giro d’Italia. Within the fourth stage had all substances for a spectacular finale.
There will likely be some sore legs tonight
There was a fierce battle from the begin to get into the break of the day. Many riders tried to get away, however these assaults had been shortly closed down. A gaggle together with Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), Ben Healy (EF Schooling-Easypost), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Leknessund & Hurt Vanhoucke (DSM) and Einer Rubio (Movistar) seemed like they may get away, however Soudal Fast-Step didn’t just like the group.
Brandon McNulty was on the assault early
Evenepoel’s group pulled issues again collectively, however it remained very stressed within the peloton. The tempo was nonetheless excessive and a lot of the sprinters had been dropped, whereas Soudal Fast-Step paid a worth for his or her work. The Belgian group noticed Davide Ballerini and Josef Cerný dropped from the primary group. On the descent to the Passo delle Crocelle it went so quick that the peloton break up into a number of items. Evenepoel and the 2 leaders of UAE Crew Emirates; João Almeida and Jay Vine had been stunned, however quickly bought again.
Quite a lot of horse energy there
After 50 kilometres, the race was nonetheless ready for the suitable break, the primary hour of racing was at round 47 kph. As a result of excessive tempo, the primary group continued to skinny out: it was too quick for Rudy Molard, Pascal Ackermann and Bauke Mollema. Paul Lapeira was additionally in hassle, the primary king of the mountains ultimately needed to abandon and was the primary rider to drop-out of the 2023 Giro d’Italia.
DSM’s Andreas Leknessund was a part of the ‘Break of the Day’
The riders who had been nonetheless within the first group had began the Passo delle Crocelle (13.5km at 4.3%), a Cat 2 climb. Thibaut Pinot took off for the KOM factors on the prime. The Groupama-FDJ rider sprinted to eighteen KOM factors, with Santiago Buitrago on his wheel, to strengthen his main place within the KOM classification. With Pinot within the lead in very foggy circumstances, they hit the descent of the Passo delle Crocelle.
The peloton wasn’t chasing too laborious
On this treacherous descent, an escape of seven riders lastly bought away. Vincenzo Albanese (EOLO-Kometa), Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën), Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samic), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) and Andreas Leknessund (DSM) joined forces and shortly managed to construct a lead of 4 minutes. Bruno Armirail tried to cross, however the French rider of Groupama-FDJ couldn’t recover from.
The break had over 5 minutes with 30K to go
Within the group behind, the block went on: Soudal Fast-Step thought it was sufficient and slowed down and the distinction shortly elevated. This gave many riders the chance to rejoin. Within the significantly thinned peloton there was a crash on the descent, together with Diego Ulissi and Stephen Williams. The Italian was capable of proceed and it initially seemed dangerous for Williams, however the British climber of Israel-Premier Tech additionally escaped unscathed.
Soudal Fast-Step saved the break shut sufficient
The riders had been capable of catch their breath within the following kilometres. However at a sure level Soudal Fast-Step determined to take duty once more within the pursuit of the main group and saved the distinction at 4 minutes. Leknessund was the brand new digital chief. The Norwegian began the day in twenty eighth place total at 1:40 from Evenepoel, and was the perfect positioned rider within the main group.
The mist got here in on the climbs
Leknessund, Albanese, Paret-Peintre, Conci, Barguil, Ghebreigzabhier and Skujins rode collectively excessive of the Valico di Monte Carruozzo (8.8km at 4.9%), the second categorised climb of the day. Right here Ghebreigzabhier was first, forward of Barguil. The peloton crossed the highest of this climb nonetheless at 4 minutes. The race scenario stayed the identical to the Colle Molella, the place all of it needed to occur. Within the run-up to the ultimate climb, the lead of the Leknessund group went up once more, in order that the entrance riders began the climb with a reassuring lead.
Andreas Leknessund needed to put the strain on Aurelien Paret-Peintre
Leknessund took the intermediate dash and the three bonus seconds. The primary assault got here with 4 kilometres to climb. Conci attacked and his acceleration proved to be the demise knell for Barguil. The Frenchman was clearly not feeling very properly and shortly needed to let go. Conci was joined by Skujins, who then went solo. Leknessund had one thing left. The Norwegian rode 2 kilometres from the highest to Skujins and took Paret-Peintre and Ghebreigzabhier with him. Leknessund didn’t intend to experience to the road with these two and soloed as soon as once more. The acceleration turned out to be an excessive amount of for Ghebreigzabhier and Paret-Peintre additionally needed to give it every part to carry on. The Frenchman was powerful, very powerful, however appeared to crack simply earlier than the highest. Leknessund made a pleasant hole, however Paret-Peintre got here again.
Aurelien Paret-Peintre has the higher end, however needed to dangle on
Leknessund and Paret-Peintre rode aspect by aspect excessive of the Colle Mollela and so there can be a dash by the 2 for the victory. Paret-Peintre lived as much as his favorite standing, additionally Leknessund was involved with the pink jersey within the final kilometre. The Norwegian might not have gained the stage, however he did take over the general lead from Evenepoel. The dash for third place was gained not a lot later by Albanese, forward of Skuijns. Conci accomplished the highest 5. Behind; Not a single GC rider was keen, or ready, to assault. INEOS Grenadiers nonetheless pushed a excessive tempo and managed to skinny out the group of favourites, however that was all. Evenepoel, Roglič, Almeida and Thomas completed in the identical time.
Leknessund removed Paret-Peintre, however the Frenchman fought again
Stage winner and third total, Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën): “The Giro d’Italia was my primary goal this yr. I got here to experience for GC however we additionally knew that as we speak was day for a breakaway and we wished a stage win for the group. It was tremendous laborious within the final climb however after that I knew that my companion was going for the Maglia Rosa and the stage win was for me. I’m delighted.”
Stage win for Paret-Peintre
The Maglia Rosa and 2nd on the stage, Andreas Leknessund (DSM): “I got here to the Giro with the goal of contesting stage victories. It was additionally the objective as we speak. But it surely’s tremendous particular to take the Maglia Rosa. Solely Knut Knudsen from Norway had it earlier than me however who had the Maglia Rosa previously few days and the influence of this jersey it’s an amazing day in my profession.”
Pink for Leknessund
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Giro d’Italia Stage 4 End result:
1. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Fra) AG2R Citroën in 4:16:04
2. Andreas Leknessund (Nor) DSM at 0:02
3. Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Trek-Segafredo at 0:57
4. Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) EOLO-Kometa
5. Nicola Conci (Ita) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 1:02
6. Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Trek-Segafredo at 1:07
7. Koen Bouwman (Ned) Jumbo-Visma at 2:01
8. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
9. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla
10. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe.
Giro d’Italia Total After Stage 4:
1. Andreas Leknessund (Nor) DSM in 14:35:44
2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step at 0:28
3. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Fra) AG2R Citroën at 0:30
4. João Almeida (Por) UAE Crew Emirates at 1:00
5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma at 1:12
6. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:26
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (-) BORA-hansgrohe
8. Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Trek-Segafredo at 1:29
9. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:30
10. Jay Vine (Aus) UAE Crew Emirates at 1:36.
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