Volta ao Algarve
Stage 4

do you really expect a summary of a time trial?

3rd


2nd


1st

The final day to decide the race, baring a catastrophe on the final stage and Peter Sagan looks to have the all wrapped up. The hilly stage will suit him well and he has 1 and a half minutes to play with in front of Carlos Betancur and another 10 seconds when you put your money on him winning tomorrow. Kangert is also just behind Bentancur, but the stage doesn't suit him as much, but he will likely hold his podium, but Pieter Weening and Sergio Henao won't let him have an easy time of it. Van Garderen is a good pick for the day, even if he hasn't been riding so great and his teammate Cataldo is a force, either helping Van Garderen or going on his own.



The peloton set off from Quiness on the penultimate stage of the race



The first few attacks stick and a 7 man break gets away, it includes, Anacona (Orica), Asquez (Caja), Herklotz (Belkin), Dimitiou (Netapp), Pomoshnikov (Rusvelo), Bookwalter (BMC) and Jeannesson (trek). Cannondale is riding an easy tempo on the front of the peloton.



The break isn't interested in the climb of Alto de Cantana, they allow Dimitriou to collect maximum points.

Alto de Cantana:





With 60km left Pomoshnikov takes the intermediate sprint, but the breakaway can't afford to sprint it out, as the peloton is just 2 and a half minutes down on the break. It looks bleak for them.

Conaran Intermediate Sprint:






No interest in the sprint again from the break, with Pomoshnikov leading them over again. There are 40km left for the break, with the peloton still 2 and a half minutes back, although Van Garderen must be feeling strong, because BMC is chasing.

Villa Larga Intermediate Sprint:





15km left and the break can just spot the peloton, even though the gap hasn't changed and it's just a long road, Pomoshnikov and Anacona attack the rest of the break. We are almost at the base of the final climb.



We are passing the 10km left and we are on the lower slopes of the final climb. With Pomoshnikov and Weening just ahead of the break, who really can't close down those final metres. The break still has 2 and a half minutes on the peloton.



The move had to come and it does, Tejay Van Garderen hits the peloton hard while Sagan calmly picks up his wheel, followed by Kelderman and Arredondo, who think a top 5 might be on the cards. Kangert sees this too late and is trying to bridge the small gap but the break still has 2 minutes and the group (who just joined back together) are hitting the 5km to go banner up front.



Kangert catches this group as more riders attack behind! Diego Johnson (Orica) is chasing, Monfort is a few seconds behind him and Pieter Weening knows he must catch this group, Betancur and Henao are nowhere to be seen!



Arredondo shows his hand, Kelderman follows, Van Garderen is on his wheel in an instant his face is either a grimace or a smile, Kangert fights on, can he make it?, but, for the first time in this race, Peter Sagan cannot follow!



2km left and Van Garderen sees his teammate up the road, droping the other favourites to reach his teammate, who is riding with Anacona, Bookwalter must have sat up for him and Van Garderen went so hard to catch him, that he dropped a few of the biggest names in this race! Behind them, Kelderman and Arredondo fight on, Tanel Kangert is almost catching them, while Peter Sagan sits further back with Diego Johnson who won't wait for his teammate Weening, who is 20 seconds back. Sergio Henao and Betancur finally attack the peloton behind, but it looks like too little, too late.



Through the 1km to go banner! and Dimitriou just blasts away the break group, Jeannesson follows in second, Pomoshnikov is in third, while Asquez and Herklotz fight for his wheel, but can they hold off Van Garderen?



Ioannis Dimitriou takes an amazing win! Holding off Jeanesson who comes in second, while Pomoshnikov completes the top 3, about a wheel length in front of Asquez, Silvio Herclotz is 5th in the break.



A tactical masterpiece from BMC and a great day for Tejay, who will no doubt move up in the GC, finishing 6th on the stage, just ahead of his teammate Bookwalter. Now we wait for Sagan and time gaps.

Anacona takes 8th, while Kelderman is right on his wheel, with Arredondo and Kangert in his group, it looks like they lost about half a minute to Van Garderen, so they'll keep their spots in GC.



Finally, Diego Johnson leads Peter Sagan over the line, Pieter Weening is another half minute back, although it looks like the damages were limited and they may have even profited in the GC, with Betancur and Henao down the road.



Finally, Betancur and Henao pay the price for letting the other riders go ahead, do they keep their GC positions?



A well deserved win for Ioannis Tamouridis today, he waited until the right moment in the break and then just went for it and he takes the King of the Mountains jersey for his efforts, but with only a two-point lead, the climb tomorrow could see another rider take it.



Despite faltering today, Peter Sagan still easily holds his yellow jersey, with a flat stage tomorrow, which he is the favourite to win, only a crash or mechanical incident can rob him of the jersey.