GIRO’20 Stage 4: Photo for Fast Frenchman Démare!

Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates and reminders on what’s cool in road cycling?

Stage 4 Race Report: A day for the sprinters that was nearly ruined by the climb of the Portella Mandrazzi, in the end the fast-finishers battled it out in Villafranca Tirrena. On the line, the photo finish equipment was needed to separate Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) and Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck – Quick-Step). It was the French champion who was given the victory. João Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) added 2 seconds to his lead over Jonathan Caicedo (EF Pro Cycling) on the overall, thanks to the intermediate sprint.

Démare managed to hold on over the climb of the Portella Mandrazzi and take the win

*** Full ‘PEZ Stage Report’ very soon. ***

At the start of stage four to Villafranca Tirrena, the last stage in Sicily, the talk was mainly about a rider who didn’t start. Geraint Thomas was one of the top favourite in the 2020 Giro d’Italia, but the INEOS Grenadiers leader crashed on the stage to Mount Etna yesterday and lost more than twelve minutes on the stage winner. This morning Thomas was re-examined and additional X-rays showed that he suffered a fractured pelvis. Exit the 2018 Tour winner, Thomas, and the stage started with 172 riders on a 140 kilometre stage to Villafranca Tirrena.

The start in Catania, Etna shrouded in cloud in the distance

Stage 4 – Catania-Villafranca Tirrena – 140km
A short stage with one relatively straightforward climb up Portella Mandrazzi, midcourse. From Catania to just outside Taormina, the roads are quite wide and mostly flat, but twisting and winding, with only a few straight stretches. After leaving the coastline, the route takes in the long Portella Mandrazzi climb (average gradient: 4%), followed by a lengthy descent that will lead the peloton to the northern coast of the island. Over the final 40km, the roads are quite wide, flat and straight, with a few urban areas along the route.

Final KMs
With less than 2km remaining to the finish, the route leaves the ss. 113 and descends slightly, following a few quite wide bends, and reaching the seafront. One last left-hand bend approximately 850m before the finish leads into the long home stretch (on 8m tarmac).

Through the streets of Catania

Day four in Sicilia

The race followed the coast out of Catania

Break of the day led by Simon Pellaud (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec)

The fans were out to see the break – The dog usually watches football

Pick your winner?

That was close!

Giro d’Italia Stage 4 Result:
1. Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 3:22:13
2. Peter Sagan (Slo) BORA-hansgrohe
3. Davide Ballerini (Ita) Deceuninck – Quick-Step
4. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) AG2R-La Mondiale
5. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cofidis
6. Stefano Oldani (Ita) Lotto Soudal
7. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Start-Up Nation
8. Michael Matthews (Aus) Sunweb
9. Filippo Fiorelli (Ita) Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè
10. Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bahrain-McLaren.

Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 4:
1. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck – Quick-Step in 11:06:36
2. Jonathan Klever Caicedo (Ecu) EF Pro Cycling at 0:02
3. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain-McLaren at 0:39
4. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb at 0:44
5. Harm Vanhoucke (Bel) Lotto Soudal at 0:55
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 0:57
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) NTT Pro Cycling at 1:01
8. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates at 1:13
9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at 1:15
10. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Jumbo-Visma at 1:17

Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates and reminders on what’s cool in road cycling?