Stage 4 should be the last one for the sprinters, who I would think enjoyed the race so far. With previous 3 stages ending in sprints, it would be very likely this will end in the same fashion. It's the last chance for the sprinters too shine, and I am sure everyone of them will fight it out with real grit today.
In very misty conditions come the four riders that broke away early on the race. You could have guessed it. First attackers, first break of the day. Break includes:
Bram Tankink (WWE)
Sven Bystrom (Iberia)
Pierre Penasa (Kappa)
Youcef Reguigui (Jaguar)
The intermediate sprint isn't going affect the rankings in anyway, however it's the young Norwegian, Bystrom that wins it.
Similarly to last two days, it's Team Privatbank shepherding it's leader and controlling the peleton at the front. 60km to go and the gap is less than 4 minutes.
As expected, there was neither any big fight for the King of Mountain points. Bram Tankink attacked at the end and took full points which propel him into 3rd position in the overall King of Mountain standings.
Last intermediate sprint is won by Bystrom again. Nice ride for the young Norwegian showing his potential here. Second goes to Reguigui and third to Penasa.
With 20km to go the break is in sight. Team Privatbank is helped by MTN, both teams will look to set their respective sprinters. In the shadows, it's always present Die Berg, Allianz, Alstom and Iberia trying to stay up front.
6km to go and the peleton is riding with high pace now! MTN - World Bicycle Relief has right now 7 riders at the front! 5 riders already formed the train, while 2 riders are keeping high pace of the peleton. We also see the two riders strong leadout for Dekkers, led by Carrara and Die Berg trying to form sprint train of their own.
4.5 km to go and it's MTN with the lead and most organized train at the front. Similarly to stage 1, they follow the same set-up today: MTN (Fouche, Uwimama, Ben Youcef & Abadallah)
Abdallah is followed by Nico Schinker who's on other hand is followed by the race leader, Polivoda. On the left we can see that Die Berg is trying to form competitive train, can they succeed ?
2.6 to go and Die Berg hits the front! It's Antton Ibarguren at the lead, meanwhile in the middle it's amazingly still Matteo Carrara leading Hans Dekkers. Uwimama is leading the MTN's train, where Abdallah seems to have lost Ben Youcef's wheel to Soupe! Great fight of 3 different trains here!
1.3 to go and Abdallah wins the fight for his team-mate wheel, while Ben Youcef accelerates and leaves the Die Berg train behind with ease. Carrara is trying to follow, looking to set up Dekkers perfectly!
Flame Rouge! And Ben Youcef certainly delivers the lead-out of the race so far. Puts Abdallah in perfect position with just 1km to go and already some gap on the rest of the sprinters! Dekkers is trying to close the gap, when Soupe pounces of his back! After the slightly disastrous end to his lead-out, Rizza is now following Soupe.
500 to go and the pack is catching up Abdallah! He had the gap, but he doesn't look to have upper speed. Soupe is leading the frantic charge with Rizza and Polivoda on his back! Can the Frenchman hold the long sprint till the end and hold off his rivals ?
It looks like Soupe will take the stage! Meanwhile Abdallah doesn't have the upper speed, he finishes off with some spare energy and made small comeback at the end putting him into podium place contention. If anyone is going to beat Soupe, it's definitely Rizza. But he is still some way behind.
Geoffrey Soupe holds it till the end and takes 2nd stage win holding off Abdallah in 2nd who looked to be in perfect position for the win, but couldn't quite deliver. Emanuele Rizza finishes 3rd, his best place yet in Algeria. He won't be happy with his overall performance I would guess, but this result is a good sign for him for the future races. Polivoda & Buts make it 4 and 5 for Team Privatbank, another consistent result by Ukrainian team here.
Bram Tankink (WWE)
Sven Bystrom (Iberia)
Pierre Penasa (Kappa)
Youcef Reguigui (Jaguar)
MTN (Fouche, Uwimama, Ben Youcef & Abadallah)
Geoffrey Soupe
Cherif Abdallah
Oleksandr Polivoda
Hugo Houle
Nico Schinker
Francisco Anton Martin
