The 4th stage starts with a long Cat.2 climb. Probably the longest this race. Afterwards it`s not really a hard stage except for one climb to start the last third.
As it`s hilly rated, you might still see the puncheurs trying to do well here while favourites are the hilly sprinters like Geschke, Iglinski, Lang or Pozdnyakov.
Devine was riding solo for much of the climb. So it`s just fair that he takes the maximum points on the top.
His two companions are Hansen Adamou
Behind in the peloton Chamorro and Van Leijen take the last points.
Devine also takes the next KoM ahead of Adamour and Hansen. Before he was already winning the sprint not willing to share.
We have a 4th breakaway rider after a long solo over the complete descent. Dall'Oste joins just ahead of the next sprint.
BoI and ASDA don`t want to give this stage to the breakaway and higher the pace. 65km and 3'40 gap.
Devine took the sprint...again...but on the Cat.3 he is beaten the first time today. It`s Adamou ahead of Dall'Oste, who is 3rd in the ranking btw.. He though keeps his 3rd only as Bulgac is still 2 points ahead and Chamorro also one point due to his effort on the first climb.
Devine being the new 4th and equal with Adamou in 5th.
7km and still a small gap for the breakaway. Hansen was the most invisible so far and now attacks.
Only Dall'Oste is able to follow him while the other two are dropped in the peloton soon.
Chaos behind. Still BoI doing most work. Why is Evonik doing nothing here? It could be their stage today! Geschke in a good position as also most other puncheurs.
This way the duo might do it. Hansen in the lead. Behind Dall'Oste. Is his long solo now being rewarded?
It`s not Geschke here in the top rows. Two BoI helpers, Boivin and Bissinger.
Behind them the big stage and GC favourites still wait.
They probably wait too long. Still a duo ahead and Dall'Oste now going around Hansen.
But he is not fast enough. Hansen takes a great win. Dall'Oste with a nice 2nd though. His downhill attack in the end worked out at least.
As said. This could have been Evonik`s day. Geschke takes 3rd behind them. His team should have done anything to avoid a break taking the stage. He is just ahead of Nathan Haas.
5th for Pozdnyakov ahead of a strong Devine, who gave everything to stay ahead in the end. Also Adamou as 9th still with a good result.
