Evenepoel passes the lead to Leknessund in the first mountain test

Frenchman Aurelien Paret Peintre (Ag2r Citrôen) won the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia between Venosa and Lago Laceno, 175 km. The Frenchman, in the first mountain stage, took advantage of the good break of the day to score his first win and the Norwegian Andreas Leknessund (DSM) is the new leader of the test.

It was difficult to make the final leak, with the permission of the Evenepoel team. The escapees were not dangerous for the general. The Belgian, leader since the opening time trial, gave up the pink jersey to take the pressure off.

Paret-Peintre finished with a time of 4 hours, 16 minutes and 4 seconds, the same as Leknessund. The Norwegian (23 years old) was happy as never before: he came in stages and found the magical pink garment. In the fifth stage, he will start with a 28-second advantage over Evenepoel, 30 over Paret-Peintre, and one minute over the Portuguese Almeida. Primoz Roglic is 1.12 away

The first mountain stage, with three passes and witness rain, began with skirmishes. The first attempts occurred on the initial ascent to La Crocelle (second category, 13.5 km. at 4.3% unevenness), with the presence of rain and fog. Pinot and the Colombian Buitrago crowned first before launching into a 20 km descent that stretched the peloton to the foot of Valico di Monti Carruozzo (2nd, 8.8 km at 4.9%), on whose ramps the escape was hatched of seven units: Ghebreigzabhier (Trek), Skujins and Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa), Barguil (Arkéa), Conci (Alpecin), Leknessund (DSM) and Paret-Peintre (AG2R).

The Eritrean Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier led the group, with a 3.45 advantage over the favorites. The escape was distancing itself from the group of the 'pink jersey' and the leadership was in danger, because Andreas Leknessund was 1.40 behind the Belgian.

THE MAGLIA FOR LUKNESSUND

The possibility of losing the 'maglia' was not a trauma for Evenepoel, since there is a lot of Giro left, and the obligations of the leader after each stage are also wearing: podium ceremony, interviews… etc.. The septet began to climb the slopes of Colle Molella, with the top three km from the finish line and with an advantage of 4.30 minutes.

The road began to point to the sky, the escape with good prospects of success and the peloton reducing the gap with the Ineos of Tao Geoghegan and Thomas showing intentions. Excitement for the stage and to know if Evenepoel was going to continue as the pink skipper. The world champion was alone, without teammates in the group of favorites. Two kilometers from the top of Colle Molella and five from the finish line, Leknessund tightened the pace in the toughest part of the pass, taking Ghebreigzabhier and Peintre with him.

The Nordic cyclist and the Frenchman Paret-Peintre crowned the port with 2.33 minutes over the peloton. Within reach of both the glory in Lago Laceno. With Evenepoel more than two minutes away, the die was cast. It was missing to know the distribution of the loot. Peintre was faster, who started 100 meters from the line.

There was no response from Leknessund, but the Nordic looked happy with the pink jersey, something the Tromso cyclist, a former U-23 European champion, stage winner in the Tour of Switzerland had never imagined.. His ambition picked up the “gift” from Evenepoel, who remains the “de facto” leader.

This Wednesday is the fifth stage between Atripalda and Salerno, 171 km long, a steep route, especially in the first half, conducive to a breakaway, although the flat finish does not rule out a sprint resolution.