2019 Giro d'Italia Stage 4 Results & Recap
Stage 4 of the 2019 Giro d'Italia is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Crash in Frascati determines final as Carapaz (Mov) takes his second Giro stage win.
A huge crash at five kilometres out from the finish line created chaos at what would already have been a chaotic finale. Breaking the peloton in dozens of bits and pieces, a front group of eight riders including Maglia Rosa Primož Roglic (TJV) raced to the line, where Richard Carapaz of Movistar took his second win in as many editions of the Giro d’Italia. The crash did however possibly see us say goodbye to one of the race's main contenders. \n \nThe finale of the stage between Orbetello and Frascati already raised question marks before the stage started: an uphill section at the final tail end, would this be a stage for sprinters or for more explosive climbers? One thing was cleared up quickly: immediately after the starting gun, a trio of riders attacked and formed the day’s break, as sure a sign as any that the break would not make it on the day.
The three riders in front, Marco Frapporti (ANS), Damiano Cima (NIP) and Mirco Maestri (BRD), divided the spoils along the 236 km long route: Maestri surprised his fellow escapees at the first intermediate sprint. Arnaud Demare (GFC) picked up the leftovers from the peloton, the only rider making clear moves to target the purple jersey in Verona. By taking the second intermediate sprint, Cima increases his lead in that sub-classification.\n \nAfter a long day in the saddle, the trio was caught back by a nervous peloton at 10 kilometre from the finish and the finale kicked up. An eclectic alliance of teams set a high speed, either to get their puncher or sprinter to the line or to keep their GC leader safe. The peloton sped its way up and down a collection of Italian muro’s, a crash involving James Knox (DQS) and Tobias Ludvigsson (GFC) dialled up the nerves another notch.
Enrico Battaglin’s Katusha Alpecin and Elia Viviani’s Quickstep led the peloton out as a crash right at the front shook up the whole bunch at six kilometres to go. In a moment of inattentiveness Salvatore Puccio of Team Ineos crashed down, taking half of Katusha with him. A small group of about 15 riders got away unscathed and the domestiques of Bora Hansgrohe and UAE set the speed for the leaders, sprinter Pascal Ackermann (BOH) and puncheur Diego Ulissi (UAE). Apart from these, the group consisted of a number of sprinters and Maglia Rosa leader Primoz Roglic. Ulissi looked the favourite for the stage win as several of the sprinters were dropped out the back, but Richard Carapaz went out early and took the stage win, just managing to stave off Caleb Ewan (LTS) and Ulissi.
This is what the first Ecuadorian rider to ever win a Giro d’Italia stage had to say: “I didn't expect to win today. It was a long stage with some hills towards the end. Our plan was just to protect Mikel Landa to not lose time but a crash at the end changed everything. I was up against sprinters for the stage win so I had to anticipate their action. The moment I chose to attack was perfect.”
Behind them, a group containing most GC contenders quickly scrambled together to limit their losses, crossing the line 18 seconds after the stage win. Movistar’s Mikel Landa missed that boat, and gave away 44 seconds to his teammate and intra-team competitor. From this group, Simon Yates says: “Everyone was fighting for position. Then one rider slid up, through nobody’s fault really, these things happen. I got up quickly, and I managed to limit my losses. Of course I would’ve rather been there at the end. I’ve hurt my knee and my hip, it’s not to bad but I’ll have to see tomorrow, it’s always worse in the morning.”
Biggest casualty of the day however was, without doubt, Tom Dumoulin. Surrounded by his team and bleeding heavily, the Dutch contender could not even produce the effort to limit his losses, and crossed the line four minutes in arrears. We will hear tomorrow if Dumoulin continues his Giro with new goals in mind. \n
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