Praha - Karlovy Vary – Praha ends with the return to Praha. It is a 184k and flat rated, but there are a number of climbs. Today is the only day with any KOM points so a good day to be in the break. The climbs include two Cat 2s and two Cat 3s. There probably isn’t enough climbing action to impact the top of the GC but with all those bumps some rider lower down the GC might decide they care about 17th place less than their manager’s do. Also, a couple of sprint points on the day.
Despite the climbing the sprinters are expected to take the stage. Top guns include:
Last name
First name
Country
Age
FL
RS
RC
SP
AC
Cullaigh
Gabriel
GBR
28
74
70
78
82
81
Philipsen
Jasper
BEL
26
74
70
80
81
80
Kemboi
Salem
KEN
29
78
77
81
80
80
Manninen
Matti
FIN
32
74
75
77
81
80
Jakobsen
Fabio
NED
28
74
73
81
80
80
Samolenkov
Artem
RUS
31
74
71
78
81
79
Abdul Halil
Mohamad Izzat Hilmi
MAS
29
70
68
77
81
79
A lot of early attacks and with 8k gone, Kaloniatis and Havik have 1’04 on the peloton. Another 8 riders trying to join them but Vabo has almost brought them back which seems to have triggered another effort by three of them - Sulvaran, Baroncini, and Veyhe.
After some further attacks all 10 riders come together and with 5k to the top of the first KOM. They have 1’10 on the peloton but Grieg does not seem eager to let them go. The other 5 in the breakaway not mentioned above are Kämna, Atkins, Sam, Giulietti, and Horvat. Kämna by far the best climber in the break although Baroncini and Sulvaran are a bit punchier.
Kämna goes into diesel mode and the rest struggle to stay with him. 1.6k to climb, dropped are Atkins, Havik, Giulietti and Baroncini. Grieg are keeping things under control so far, Bazhkou on the front 1’48 back.
700 meters, just Horvat and Sam grimly gripping to Kämna’s wheel.
Kämna pays the price for not dropping the other two and Horvat out sprints him to take maximum points. Sam third. Peloton still led by Bazhkou at 1’52.
Sulvaran and Veyhe take the rest of the points.
147k to go, 15k to the first sprint point and 21k to the 2nd Cat 2. The front 4 are together. Veyhe has been yo-yoing off the back of this group. Kaloniatis another 21 seconds back. The rest of the original break is caught. Grieg haven’t given up the chase and the peloton is at 2’04. Only 1 rider (Vabo) dropped from the peloton.
Maybe because he is closest on GC at 2’32, Kämna is the most aggressive at the sprint point and takes maximum points. Veyhe is back with the front group but Kaloniatis does not look like he will make it as he is now 55 seconds back. Peloton at ‘143.
The second Cat 2 is much shorter but also much steeper. This time Kämna tries an attack 800 meters from the top. Behind the lead has stretched to 2’36 as Grieg seem to be running out of steam for the chase.
Kämna lacks the punch to get rid of the others and Sulvaran comes around him to take maximum points. The Puma rider is second, then Horvat, Sam and Veyhe.
Kämna and Horvat on 16 points with Sulvaran on 14. 76k until the first of the two remaining Cat 3s.
110k to go for the break. Veyhe was dropped on the last climb and is now a minute down. Kaloniatis has been caught by the peloton which is now 4’40 behind. The lead was over 5 minutes for a while but Grieg have started to work again as Kämna has the virtual lead by a couple of minutes.
Kämna takes the 2nd sprint ahead of Sam. Peloton at 4’37. 91k to go. Grieg with Korsaeth, Rajapakshage and Hulgaard on the front.
60k to go, the break have 3’33, and some other teams have just come to the front, they are Tinkoff (Gonov) and EA (Tanfield and De Bod). Veyhe has been caught.
Sulvaran and Horvat set the pace on the lower slopes of the first Cat 3 but just past the 1k banner Kämna makes his move. Sam follows him. Lead over the peloton is 2’21.
400k from the top Sulvaran finds some room to go by Kämna on the left.
Sulvaran takes maximum points, Horvat also comes round Kämna before the top. The German gets 3rd then Sam. Lead at 2’25. cycleYorkshire and Polar also contributing now.
Sulvaran and Hovat both on 20 points, Kämna on 18. Race KOM will be decided at the 2nd Cat 3 which comes in 12k. Sam won’t win it as he only has 10 points.
The breakaway hits the final climb with a lead of 2’21. Kämna goes back to leading from the front.
Kämna attacks past the 1k banner, the other all able to follow initially. Kragh Andersen has punctured in the peloton but on the lower slopes of the climb with the peloton moving slowly, so he should be OK.
Kämna can’t drop the others and Sulvaran’s extra punch proves to be the key as he takes 1st on the climb and in the KOM. Horvat 2nd in both and Kämna is only 3rd, he needed a bit more kick to get rid of his rivals. Peloton at 2’04 with 37k to go. Kragh Andersen never lost contact.
25k to go and the catch is almost made. Basso, Kung, and Lauk on the front. There were some brief splits in the peloton but it is all back together now with mostly Grieg domestiques missing off the back. Among the riders dropped is Andersen, 28th on GC.
2.5k to go and the sprint preparations are underway. Lauk and Garcia Cortina ahead of Philipsen on the left-hand rail. Hansen trying to move up to get ahead of Cullaigh. Next three are Nommela, Van Poppel and Peak.
1.3k, Cullaigh has got onto Garcia Cortina’s wheel with Philipsen behind him. Then Nommela, Van Poppel and Peak. Next row is Jakobsen, Sanikwathi, Sureda, Abdul Halil and Kragh Andersen.
900 meters, Philipsen, Cullaigh and Van Poppel launch. Seems early.
Cullaigh’s atrocious season continues as he quickly fades. Peak on the left and Abdul Halil on the right look to be passing Philipsen and Van Poppel. 500 meters to go. Jakobsen also moving fast and he has clear road on the left-hand side as he passes Nommela. Kemboi and Groves are looking for room in the middle of the road.
Peak leads with 300 meters to go but Jakobsen is coming fast. Groves third. Kemboi got hung up behind the fading Abdul Halil and is now behind Kragh Andersen who is also fading.
Groves holds his speed the best and has a lead with 100 meters to go. A late charge from Stage 2 winner Steimle has put him in the picture. Sureda also hanging tough.
Groves wins Stage 4.
Peak is given 2nd ahed of Jakobsen. Steimle is 4th. Samolenkov comes late for 5th. Then Sureda.
Sanikwathi. Kragh Andersen, Bauhaus and Kemboi are 7th to 10th.
Würtz wins Praha - Karlovy Vary – Praha 2024. Zmorka is 2nd, he also wins the points jersey by 1 point from Steimle, Jakobsen is 3rd.
Sulvaran is the King of the Mountains. Vernon is the best young rider and Oxxo-Frisby the best team.
Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha 
