After the race’s excursion to the Netherlands for the first three days, the Giro hit the Italian roads, and for many of the GC riders, this is where the race began. After three stages that suited the sprinters, on today’s 200km stage, which crossed two categorised climbs, and had a much more undulating parcours than the stages in Holland, the race for the Maglia Rosa shifted up a gear. After a strong solo effort stole the stage honours, Tinkoff leader Rafal Majka crossed the line in 12th position after a hard effort on the final climbs of the day, moving himself up to 13th in the GC.
Starting in the town of Catanzaro in the deep south of Italy, the profile with only two third category climbs meant the sprinters still held a chance of holding on to the end of the stage, but all depended on how the day’s climbs were raced. After the early skirmishes a break away of four riders eventually formed but their lead was to be closely controlled with the peloton making it hard to create a significant time gap on the group, sitting at just two and a half minutes after the first 100km.
While the break did manage to increase the gap to three minutes, this quickly came down as the stage’s finish came closer, and with 51km remaining, the break was pulled in near the top of the San Pietro as the pace increased and the sprinters started to struggle.
From the finish, Sport Director, Tristan Hoffman, explained the impact of the breaks. “In the start there were a few guys in front, and the peloton took the first climb quite easy, but then next time the pressure was put on and there were splits. During this, the guys got Rafal into a good position and there was never any real problems today for us.”
With 35km remaining, more attacks came – with the more capable climbers using the smaller climbs towards the stage’s finish to their advantage, trying to build a gap over the peloton. This group started small, with only a couple of riders, but a chasing group of fifteen was working to bridge the gap. No sooner had these escapees been caught, when another attack of six riders went clear, with 25km remaining.
These last few climbs were to be pivotal in deciding the stage’s outcome, as Hoffman explained from the finish. “From 25km to go the roads were really tricky, so it was great to see Jay in the break there as the racing was full gas. That allowed Rafal to stay well positioned behind as the group thinned.”
With 13.5km to go, on the short, fast descent before the final climb, the speeds rapidly increased and the attacking group, which saw Jay McCarthy at the front, increasing their gap on the peloton. With the Maglia Rosa losing time, the GC riders came to the front of the chasing group, ready to start their campaigns, and Rafal Majka was one such rider. Finishing 12th on the stage, and six seconds after the solo stage winner, the Tinkoff leader moved up to 13th on the GC after a strong ride.
Jay McCarthy gave his thoughts on the stage after returning to the team bus. “I’m happy that I got across to the move but also a bit disappointed that I couldn’t follow Ulissi when he went and to go for the stage – but overall I’m pleased that I was there for the team and that I had my chance to go for the stage victory. It was probably one of the warmest days since I’ve been in Europe – it’s the type of weather I like racing in but it was a bit of a shock to the system too!”
Hoffman was pleased with his team leader’s strong performance on the stage. “On the final climb when the moves came, Rafal had no problems in following the leaders there. He told me that he was feeling good and easily able to move up on the climb so he’s looking in good shape. I’m quite happy that this stage is over as in the last 20km were really tricky and if you had a problem it would have been really hard to come back to the front.”
The stage wasn’t without is challenges however, as Hoffman explained. “Jesus Hernandez had a small crash today but he was OK and finished without any problems. Now we refocus on tomorrow.”
Tomorrow’s stage starts in Praia a Mare – today’s finish – and takes the riders over a long, undulating 233km stage. The stage starts with the day’s only categorised climb before following a rolling route for the next 150km. With a long, downhill ride to the finish, riders will have a chance to pull in any breakaways that remain out front although a small kick to the finish line may give riders a chance to surprise at the end of a long day in the saddle. Tomorrow’s strategy was still open, Hoffman explained. “Stage 5 is 233km on pretty good roads but the whole day up and down so it could be a day for a breakaway or maybe another sprint but it depends on how it is raced. We will make a plan for the day and be ready again tomorrow.”
Stage 4 Result
1. Diego Ulissi (ITA) Lampre-Merida 04:46:51
2. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Team Giant-Alpecin +00:00:05
3. Steven Kruijswijk (NED) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo +00:00:05
4. Alejandro Valverde (SPA) Movistar +00:00:06
5. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) Etixx-Quick Step +00:00:06
12. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:06
28. Jay McCarthy (AUS) Tinkoff +00:00:42
38. Pawel Poljanski (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:43
48. Ivan Rovny (RUS) Tinkoff +00:00:43
81. Evgeny Petrov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:02:56
98. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:05:18
99. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:05:18
112. Pavel Brutt (RUS) Tinkoff +00:06:00
140. Jesus Hernandez (SPA) Tinkoff +00:08:10
GC After Stage 4
1. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Team Giant-Alpecin 14:00:09
2. Bob Jungels (LUX) Etixx – Quick Step +00:00:20
3. Diego Ulissi (ITA) Lampre-Merida +00:00:20
13. Rafal Majka (POL) Tinkoff +00:00:45
43. Pawel Poljanski (POL) Tinkoff +00:01:55
53. Jay McCarthy (AUS) Tinkoff +00:03:00
74. Evgeny Petrov (RUS) Tinkoff +00:05:38
80. Pavel Brutt (RUS) Tinkoff +00:06:45
109. Ivan Rovny (RUS) Tinkoff +00:09:20
126. Jesus Hernandez (SPA) Tinkoff +00:11:17
130. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Tinkoff +00:12:07
140. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:13:16
