The 4th stage is possibly the most selective one. While the first circuit with 2 laps is pretty easy, the next circuit with 7 laps couldn`t be much harder.
7 times they must climb a very tough uphill section before it goes down towards the finish again.
The hilly specialists will surely try to distance the better climbers before tomorrows mountain time trial.
The early sprint is still in the phase of breakaway building.
Krasnilikau takes it ahead of Toribio and Hadi, who all did just attack.
It was a successful attempt as those three have created a gap of 2'30 now. Krasnilikau Toribio Hadi
Best placed of them is Krasnilikau, who had not lost any time yet, while Toribio is surely the best puncheur despite the fact that the GC is gone for him due to a crash earlier in this race.
FC Barcelona, Gazelle, Cadbury and Armavia all have good riders for the GC and so are forced to work behind.
In a close sprint Hadi wins against Krasnilikau, while Toribio follows as last here.
The easy part is almost raced and the real race can begin.
82km left and the peloton reaches the first climb. The gap is a bit down to 4'40 as Gazelle and Armavia are going faster now.
This already drops two time stage winner Murray alongside his team mate Gaywood.
Also Ekspla`s sprinter Meenhorst lost contact.
The trio needs to fight as elimination can`t be in their interest even though their most suiting stages are already raced.
No fight at the first Cat.3 climb. Hadi, Krasnilikau and Toribio in this order just pass the line.
Same situation as the 2nd KoM on the 4th climb. Obviously none of them is interested and they just want to get a stage win here.
Surprising that Toribio couldn`t follow as he seems injured. More bad news for Iberia as today could have been a good chance otherwise.
This way it`s hard for him to beat the others in a possible sprint later.
Speaking of crashes. Here is another one.
It`s Ibarguren. Die Berg Komt Er`s GC rider. Bad luck as well for them.
Meanwhile more or less all sprinters and weaker hill riders lost contact and will lose a lot of time, which will mix the GC quite a lot today.
What a strength! Gazelle with all 7 riders in one line to start the final. 3 climbs left and the peloton is down to 47 riders with more riders hanging at the end having huge problems.
Only two riders are left in front as Toribio couldn`t go any further. He was dropped a lot and is already behind the peloton.
Also bad news for Jaguar as their GC rider Lahsaini also seems to be injured and he will lose lots of time today as well.
And we also get the first attacks on the 2nd last climb: Ospina Tamayo Martinez David
First mentioned make the jump to the breakaway, while David wasn`t strong enough.
But the peloton is right behind them.
More riders attack as they see the gap opening a bit: Ngue Nieve Wang
So PFG Armavia are going aggressive today without using Burlutsky yet, who sits in 2nd overall.
Ospina takes the last KoM ahead of Tamayo Martinez and Hadi, who is the last rider to keep contact. Strong performance by him as well.
The 2nd last climb might become the selective one as more and more riders attack: Martinez Weening Chacon Joeaar Burlutsky Gallego
With Weening in the attack the pace in the peloton obviously dropped a lot. And also good to see that Iberia sends their last GC chance in Chacon into the attack as also Burlutsky, who is the 3rd Armavia rider here already.
Torckler has missed the first attacks and accelerated just like race leader Nardin here.
The peloton totally slowed down now, so all riders, who missed to attack will lose all GC chances.
Both are trying to join the group of 12, but still have a very small gap.
And as Weening attacks half way up the last climb, the pace won`t drop to help them.
The group was split into two pieces now with the situation being: Weening
6s Martinez Ngue Nieve Wang Ospina Tamayo Martinez
24s Chacon Joeaar Burlutsky Gallego Nardin Torckler Hadi Krasnilikau
4'35
Peloton
On top of that climb we have more selection as Tamayo Martinez attacks: Weening
25s Tamayo Martinez Ngue Nieve
24s Martinez Wang Ospina
18s Torckler
13s Chacon Joeaar Burlutsky Gallego Nardin
36s Hadi Krasnilikau
Weening is definitely the strongest and is extending his lead with every kilometer.
It´s already at 40s to Nieve, who was able to get a small gap.
No time to celebrate a huge win. Weening was gaining more time until the end and wins solo, which will give him the race lead for sure.
Nieve as 2nd is already 1'13 behind. And as the small gap is not counted Tamayo Martinez and Ngue will also be winners of todays stage as the gap to the next group is similar.
Strong finish by Nardin as well. +2'21 and more than a minute behind the Nieve group he finishes as 5th.
Also in this group are Ospina, who keeps the Die Berg Komt Er flat up, Wang, Martinez, who must hope to improve in tomorrows time trial and Torckler.
Joeaar as 10th comes in together with Chacon, Gallego and Burlutsky. All of them couldn`t follow in the end.
Hadi and Krasnilikau lose almost 6min in the end but still finish ~2min ahead of the peloton.
Quite nice to see some selective races this season as well I guess.
