New stage of madness on the roads of Switzerland Tour ! Indeed, on this 4th stage between Heiden and Piuro (193.2 km), the battle started from far away, with an acceleration of JOAO ALMEIDA 50 kilometers from the finish, in the major difficulty of the day. Impressive, the Portuguese of the training UAE Team Emirates XRG isolated itself and came to win after an incredible solo raid. A time put in difficulty, Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) managed to limit the breakage and keeps his yellow jersey. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B & B Hotels) and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) also made a very nice step, which places them 2nd and 3rd in the general classification.
VIDEO – The day before, Quinn Simmons had won the 3rd stage
The summary
Despite the start of the flat stage, the attacks have shot, with in particular Neilson Powless (EF Education-Easypost) particularly active. But the frantic look – first 80 kilometers traveled at 54 km/h on average – prevented any escape from taking off. It was not until the km 106, after a new abandonment, that of Laurens de Plus (Ineos grenadiers), to see an escape of eight forming: Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-trek), Thomas Gloag (Visma | Lease a Bike), I August (INEOS Grenadiers), Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Wanty), Sébastien Grignard (Lotto), Marius Mayrhofer et Larry Warbasse (Tudor).
As approaching Splügen pass (8.8 km at 7.3 %), the only ascent of the day, the breakaway has fragmented, then completely erased under the impetus of the team UAE Team Emirates XRG. Felix Grosschartner Then Jan Christen imposed a hellish train, bringing the leaders in mind as the summit approaches. That's when JOAO ALMEIDA Accelerated, on the train, 4 km from the summit. One by one, the favorites have dropped: Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Ben O’Connor (Jayco alula), then Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R) and Oscar Onley (Picnic postnl).
Le Show Almeida
Almeida tilted alone in the lead with 45 seconds in advance, on Onlyy, Gall, O’Connor, Vauquelin but also Ilan van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Clement Champoussin (XDs asa), Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) et Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Prime Tech). While Grégoirein difficulty, went to the top with 1'30 “late, accompanied by Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) et Lennard Kaven (Lidl-Trek). This trio ended up entering the group of pursuers in the descent, the gap with Almeida is stabilized around 45 seconds. Bart Lemmen has never managed to return and will concede 4 minutes on the finish line.
The agreement is not ideal in the group of pursuers, it attacks in all directions. In the last kilometers, O’Connor et Onlyy manage to take a few lengths in advance, but far behind Almeidawhich is essential after a raid of 50 kilometers alone. Onlyy finished 2nd, 40 “, O’Connor 3rd to 42 “, and the yellow jersey group with a minute late.
In the general classification, Romain Grégoire So keep his yellow jersey in front Vauquelin et Alaphilippe. On the other hand, the Frenchman is dangerously closer to Ben O’Connor et JOAO ALMEIDA.
