Giro d’Italia Stage 4 Race Report: On the first day for the ‘pure’ sprinters, we had a surprise winner in a chaotic bunch sprint. Casper van Uden of Team Picnic PostNL beat top favourite Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor) in Lecce, for an all-Dutch podium. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) finished fourth to hold the pink jersey.
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Giro stage 4 finale
After a rest day, the Giro crosses the Adriatic Sea to Puglia for a 187km stage from Alberobello to Lecce, and probably the first bunch sprint. Alberobello, famous for its UNESCO trulli, offers a picturesque start. The route is mostly flat, with only one Cat 4 climb, so the sprint teams can control the race.
The riders head east to the coast and then south to Lecce, where there is a local circuit. Lecce has been a sprinters playground in the past, Alessandro Petacchi beat Mario Cipollini here in 2003.
The start in Alberobello with its UNESCO trulli
Pink Pedersen and the Lidl-Trek riders were happy at the start
Francisco Muñoz (Team Polti-VisitMalta) went on a solo adventure early in the stage and the peloton wasn’t interested. It was going to be a lonely day for the Spanish rider as no one made any moves to join him. Muñoz’s lead quickly increased to over 4 minutes.
The peloton leaves Alberobello for a sprinter’s stage
Francisco Muñoz of Polti VisitMalta went solo
An easy day for Primoz Roglič
An extra rest day for the peloton on stage 4
Kaden Groves must be one of the favourites for a bunch sprint
The fans are happy to see the Giro back on Italian soil
After his brave effort, Muñoz was caught with 56 kilometres to go
The peloton could get ready for a bunch sprint in the tight finishing circuit
Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL) takes a GT stage win
Chaotic bunch sprint win for Van Uden
Stage winner, Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL): “I didn’t do it alone. I did it with the whole team, all the boys here, the staff, the HQ as well… I didn’t have to any wind. I know I have a good long sprint. We did a good job with the lead out since the beginning of the season, also in Turkey last week. It’s a win in the first sprint of my first Grand Tour but I don’t think it’s a surprise. Sometimes I have to believe in myself as much as the boys believe in me. I don’t the future but I’m happy with this win for now.”
iggest win
Van Uden is a fast finisher, but this is his biggest win
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Giro d’Italia Stage 4 Result:
1. Casper van Uden (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL in 4:02:21
2. Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
3. Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor
4. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
5. Max Kanter (Ger) XDS Astana
6. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
7. Sam Bennett (Irl) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
8. Paul Magnier (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step
9. Ben Turner (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
10. Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 4:
1. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
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