Tour d'Andorra
Stage 4
Stage 4 is a MTT based around Andorra la Vella and La Massana. A simple TT, it will climb the mountain before descending to the finish. Just over 30km length, can those who lose time on the way up, make up time on the way back down.
Of the early riders, it was
Artur Grigarian who set the fastest time, but to be honest he didn't have much competition amongst the 'non-climbers' in the peleton --
37'59"
The Novatek rider's time stood until
Matthias Frank hit the course. Best time at all the checks, he would go on to better the time by 8 seconds --
37'51"
Robert Kiserlovski was next to hit the top spot before we focused more on the Top10 on GC. Bettering Frank at all checks, he would take 2 seconds off the time --
37'49"
And now we come to the current Top 10 on GC -
Natnael Berhane. This was the day the Eritel rider feared the most, and he wanted to limit his losses. At the halfway mark, his time was 28'49"
9th place going into the stage was
Magno Nazaret, and was not having a good day in the saddle. 37" slower than Berhane at the top of the climb, his time was 29'26".
Yonathan Monsalve had struggled after the first stage, but today was more to his liking. He need to make up time after the stage on Arcalis, and at the halfway mark he would take the best time with 28'01.
Not expecting to be in his position before the stage,
Tiago Machado had a point to prove. Storming the climb, he sets the new best time with 27'53"
Janez Brajkovic showed what he had on the last stage, attacking his rival to take time before the MTT. He would be 33" seconds slower at the top of the climb, with a time of 28'26"
Rafa Valls had been quiet and consistent so far in Andorra, sitting in 5th overall before the MTT. He sits 41" down on Machado at the top of the climb, with a time of 28'34".
So far everyone was riding to a good finish in the MTT, but sadly
Rigoberto Úran was not in a good place. Struggling up the entire climb, he would be 1'26" down at the top in comparison to Machado... was he going to be losing his Top 5 GC place? His time at the halfway point was 29'52".
If Úran was struggling, then
Beñat Intxausti was having a disaster... 1'53" slower than the best time on the climb, he had Denifl slowly reeling him behind. Podium at threat as he topped the climb with a time of 29'19".
The Intxausti carrot in front of
Stefan Denifl must have been fantastic for the Austrian. Hitting the climb hard, he would be only 5" off the time of Machado, posting a time of 27'58" over the top.
Final rider over the top before the descent was Race Leader
Andrei Amador. 6"down on Machado, his Yellow Jersey wasn't at threat just yet... His time was 27'59" at the halfway mark.
To the finish line, and Berhane was looking good and had no need to worry today. Posts good time that should consolidate his Top 10 position --
37'33"
Nazaret made up some time on the descent, but not enough to post the best time in Andorra. His Top 10 could be at risk ahead of tomorrow --
38'13"
The descent from Monsalve was something of a dream to watch, and he was very much focused on performing rather than just turning up. Taking the new best time, he would jump up to 6th on GC overall --
37'06"
Machado was a man on a mission today, and not only dominates the climb but descends like a stone! Best time smashed, as the Porto man goes first and up to 3rd on GC! --
37'00"
Brajkovic would have his work cut out to top the time of Machado, but crossing the line just 31" down was certainly damage limitation. He would stay in the Top 5 ahead of the Queen stage tomorrow --
37'31"
10" down on Brajkovic is Valls, who continues his silent attack on the GC with a very respectable MTT time. Still in the Top 5, he would be in a good position before the final stage --
37'41"
Uran's day had started badly, and it would not get any better on the descent. Unable to make up the lost time, he would drop to 8th on GC ahead of a big day tomorrow --
38'28"
Well I'm afraid Intxausti sees Uran's bad day, and raises him his own... The Spanish TT National Champion might be looking great in the Red / Yellow colours, but his time is far from it. His fall down the GC is not nice watching either --
38'55"
Back to the battle for Yellow, and Stefen Denifl needed to try and put time into Amador on the descent. He had 1 second at the top, but he wouldn't have that at the bottom. The GC battle will go to the last stage, and it will be a great stage for the neutrals! --
37'05"
Final rider to cross the line was Andrei Amador. He was 6" down on Machado at the top, and he is just 1"slower than the Porto rider on the line! He extends his GC lead by a few seconds, and looks unstoppable going into the Queen Stage --
37'01"
