The peloton challenged the wet and cold on the fourth stage in Romandie. Three escapees managed to make it until the finish. Johannes Fröhlinger was fourth in the bunch sprint – finishing seventh.

Home rider Stefan Küng (BMC Racing Team) felt remarkably good in the far-by-ideal weather conditions in which the stage took place. With a well-timed attack in the final descend the Swiss rider got rid of his fellow breakaway companions and took his first big win. In the bunch sprint that followed, Fröhlinger finished 7th. Georg Preidler abandoned the race due to sickness.

“Unfortunately we missed the breakaway, which could have been a great opportunity to take a top result. During the stage my task was to stay with Luka in the case he would be able to stay in the bunch. As he didn’t felt good we decided to not work in the bunch anymore.

“Luka and I were in the front of the bunch at the start of the final climb. Unfortunately, he dropped and I was able to stay in the reduced bunch. Luka was too far behind and we decided to sprint for a good result, which worked out quite well.

“I am definitely not an explosive rider but after 4,5 hours in the rain I positioned myself behind the race leader Albasini and in that way finished third of the bunch”, said Johannes after the stage.