Yesterday Giant-Shimano enjoyed a great success when Nikias Arndt won the third stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné. There was no double glory, however, as the team missed the break in today's stage.
Today’s fourth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné was a chance for the opportunists to have their shot at glory and with a break of 13 riders moving clear in the first half of the stage without any Team Giant-Shimano jerseys there was to be no repeat of yesterday’s resounding success.
These 13 riders eventually splintered on the day’s final climb of the Col de Manse, a category two climb cresting 12.5km out, with Yuri Trofimov (Katusha) moving clear on his own and racing down the descent the other side to take a solo victory.
The main peloton also saw riders moving off the front and also off the back, and by the top only Chad Haga was left in the front peloton. Haga eventually came across the line in 18th place, while all the other Team Giant-Shimano riders finished safely within the time limit.
There was little change in the overall classification of the race today with the breakaway riders posing no real threat overall. Chris Froome (Team Sky) remains in the yellow tunic of race leader ahead of tomorrow’s fifth stage which features no less than six categorised climbs, with the hardest ascent being a second category climb – another day for the escapists?
Unfortunately Daan Olivier did not start the fourth stage due to aggravated saddle sores which got worse during yesterday’s stage. He will head home to recover before his next objectives.
Team Giant-Shimano coach Christian Guiberteau said after the stage: “The guys tried at the beginning of the stage to get in the break but it was one of those days where it was likely to survive to the end and so it was full gas. Chad got close but then the break that stuck went just after his move so he didn’t have time to recover to jump with it.
“Once the move had gone we just focused on staying cool, staying hydrated and arriving at the bottom of the final climb together at the front.The pace was high on the climb and only Chad stayed with the front group but everyone else kept out of trouble. We will try again for the break tomorrow.”
Marcio Alfredo Reis CORREIA 44 years | today |
Stephan AMEND 37 years | today |
Tomoya KANEKO 37 years | today |
Milton CLARES 34 years | today |
Joshua SOBERON 35 years | today |
© CyclingQuotes.com