Stage 4 is by far the longest (236k) and hardest stage of the Tour of Lithuania. The riders depart from Nemenčinė and work their way along the Neris river into Vilnius. The opening kilometers are pretty flag but they then tackle 9 circuits around Vilnius. Each circuit includes 3 short marked climbs with the finish occurring on the first of the climb at the beginning of the 10th circuit. None of the climbs are that hard but given the distance they will begin to have an impact as we move deeper into the race.
Cat 4 points are awarded on two of the climbs in the 2nd, 5th and 8th circuit. There are also two sprint points both come late but the second one comes at the base of the final climb, so riders on the attack will have a chance for a few bonus seconds.
The organizers favor the punchier riders over the climbers with Van der Lijke featured but not Gidich. De Bie (+1’15) is the top favorite but only Eiking (+2’50) starts further back than him on the GC among the organizer’s favorites.
Eiking recognizes his deficit as well and is one of the first attackers, along with Nitu.
12k gone, the lead group has grown to 7. but with attacks still coming and the peloton chasing, the lead is just 49 seconds. The 7 attackers are Eiking, Grossschartner, Bernas (KOM leader), Holmes, De Vos, Nitu, and Albanese.
25k gone, same 7 out front. MOL, ISA-Hexacta and EA Vesuvio have been shutting down additional attacks. The lead is 1’31.
33k gone. The leaders reach Vilnius and begin the first ascent up to the Rokantiškių reservoir. This is also the finishing climb. It is 2.5k at 4.2%. Their lead is 1’56 with attacks still coming in the peloton.
As the break completes the 2nd climb they have been joined by 2 more riders and their lead has stretched to 3’01. The climb is in Pavilnys Park and is 1.4k at 5.7%. KOM points will be awarded here on the 2nd, 5th and 8th circuit. The two new members of the break are Errazkin and Awuku. The former is a strong climber and did not lose time on Stage 1, he is just 52 seconds back in the GC.
The third official climb on the circuit is Filaretu Street, 1.5k at 4.7% but with a flat sector in the middle which means the beginning is much harder. KOM points will also be awarded as well. There are also a number of other rises on the circuit that didn’t merit marking. The lead is up to 3’46
Errazkin attacks with 400k to go on the second ascent in Pavlinys Park. Bernas is the only one in the break with any KOM points, with 20, but there are enough points available to day that he could lose that if he doesn’t score some. The peloton is at 4’25 with 172k to ride.
Errazkin takes first ahead of his teammate, Grossschartner and Nitu.
On Filaretu Street De Vos goes early and takes maximum points (5), ahead of Nitu (3+1=4) and Errazkin (1+5=6). No points for Benas but the others splitting the points works for him. The lead is holding at around 4’30. The next KOM points come on the 5th lap.
150k to go for the peloton, the lead down to 4’15. EA Vesuvio, Volcania, Moser and Aegon among the teams working. Good to see the home fans acknowledging their local riders even if they are not famous names.
5th lap, 105k to go the break's lead is 3’33. Awuku, Eiking and Bernas attack early for the KOM points.
Eiking (5) edges Bernas (3+20=23). Errazkin edges Awuku to take 1 point to bring his total to 7. But Bernas has done enough to secure the KOM jersey, he has 16-point lead and there are a maximum of 15 points to be scored left.
De Vos (5+5=10) likes the Flaretu Street climb as he wins it again. Ahead of Eiking (3+4=8) and Nitu (1+4=5). Those 3 open up a 24-second gap on the rest of the break.
Einhorn leads the peloton across the finishing climb at the beginning of the 6th lap. The peloton has closed to 2’55 with 90k still to ride. About 50 riders were split off the back a few k ago but have been able to rejoin.
1 lap later. Lead down to 1’37. Stojnic had been pushing the pace for Los Pollos now it is Galta on the front. About 40 riders off the back, Aidan Van Niekerk and Spilak the biggest names.
Another lap later. With MOL, Moser and Aegon pushing the pace the lead is under a minute. Bernas, Albanese and Errazkin have attacked in the break. Peloton down to 93 riders. A number of the sprinters dropped but not Ewan who has been making his presence known near the front of the peloton. This lap features the last of the KOM points and the first sprint point.
The three attackers were brough back but a new threesome of Albanese, Eiking and Errazkin got a gap.
As they approach the base of the Pavilnys Park climb Eiking attacks his companions. Grossschartner and Holmes have been dropped and are back in the peloton the rest of the break at 25 seconds. The peloton at 1’16. Another 38 riders dropped including Prevar, Gesbert, and Groenewegen. Aegon all-in for De Bie but some of the other sprinters are still in the front group.
Errazkin (5+7=12) and Albanese (3) catch Eiking (1+8=9) and take 1st and 2nd on the climb. Errazkin now 3rd on the KOM, he can move up to 2nd if he can stay away until the final KOM point.
As the 3 leaders start the Fileratu street climb their lead is down to 21 seconds. The rest of the break is caught. Prado on the front of the peloton. 28k to ride.
Errazkin hangs on long enough to take the 5 points and move into 2nd in the KOM competition. But the catch will come soon. There is a bonus sprint just ahead.
The peloton has run out of chasers so Errazkin and Albanese take 1st and 2nd at the sprint. Denz leads the 50 rider peloton across in 3rd. From here they have one full lap plus the extra climb at the finish. Errazkin has 32 seconds, Albanese 19 seconds.
Under the 20k banner Errazkin is caught by Denz. Still 50 riders in the front group. Two more climbs on this lap and then the finishing climb. A number of sprinters still here including Ewan, Van der Lijke, Enger, Zabel, Farantakis and the two you would expect, Houle and Kump.
5k to ride, they are on Fileratu Street again and the first attacks come from the Yellow Jersey and the White Jersey, Ewan and Munton.
Across the top Kump and De Bie lead the peloton back up to them. Munton attacks again.
Munton takes the sprint points ahead of Ewan and De Bie.
1.2k to go, De Bie catches Munton and attacks. Koretzky on his wheel.
They open up a 10 second advantage under the 1k banner.
600 meters, those two holding their gap. Bobridge, Ewan and Kump leading the chase. At the back Farantakis has become the first of the remaining sprinters to be dropped.
The gap up to 18 seconds as they start to sprint. Ewan is sprinting behind them. Koretzky started the day 29 seconds behind on the GC, 20 second bonus for the winner, he could grab the title if he wins the stage.
Koretzky can’t close on De Bie. Gidich, De Plus and Sagan also sprinting now. Van der Lijke next. Time gaps are going to be important here in determining the GC.
De Bie wins stage 4, he hasn’t had a great season but his team put the faith in him here and he delivered. A nice second by Koretzky.
Ewan sprints home for 3rd, 10 seconds behind which makes him the race winner. A great race by him, the bonus seconds from winning both the first two stages were key to his unexpected GC victory. Bobridge finishes a consistent race with 4th on the day. Kump takes 5th. A handful more riders have been dropped at the back.
Sagan takes 6th ahead of Van der Lijke and De Plus.
Houle comes through to take 9th ahead of Kwiatkowski in 10th. Gidich fades and settles for 11th. Riders up to 29th place get the same time as Ewan.
In addition to the GC, Ewan takes the points competition ahead of Zabel.
The rest of the top 10 on GC is a mixed bunch. Munton takes 2nd as the only EA Vesuvio rider to both finish in the front group today and stay with their TT team yesterday. He also wins the White Jersey. Koretzky does the best of the puncheurs taking 3rd thanks to his bonus seconds and time gap today. Gidich is 4th as the only King Power rider to survive in the front group. Van der Lijke is 5th. If Van der Lijke could have held on to the TTT squad yesterday it would have been better.
Groselj and Gaudu give Cedivita 6th and 7th without a single mention in any report. They leveraged a strong TTT and showed that both puncheurs and roulers were capable of surviving today’s stage. Bobridge is 8th and Lopez 9th, they needed a time gap today, like Koretzky, to do better. Spanopoulos takes 10th and gives ELCO two in the GC top 10. ELCO also have Mavrikakis in 11th and they win the team competition by 5 seconds over Cedevita.
Tour of Lithuania 
