Stage 4 of La Vuelta has not fallen prey to Lotte Kopecky either. The final, which resembled the Strade Bianche, suited her like a glove, but fifty meters before the finish, the Belgian fell silent. Italy’s Silvia Persico was the fastest, Kopecky was fourth for the second day in a row. Annemiek van Vleuten lost no time and remains leader.
Stage 4 in the Challenge by La Vuelta was by far the longest of them all. The women had to bridge no less than 160 kilometers on their way to Segovia. The course was mainly on flat roads, but had a dangerous ending.
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer didn’t want to wait for the explosive final and took off on her own early in the stage. The peloton seemed to miss the Austrian for a long time. She got more than 8 minutes lead and was even a virtual leader for a while.
But the favorites teams had timed well. In the final phase, Kiesenhofer’s lead melted like snow in the sun. The ascending gravel strip 8 kilometers from the end made Strade Bianche winner Lotte Kopecky lick beards. Her team took the lead.
About 25 riders were able to follow and rode together towards the final climb. In the run-up, leader Annemiek van Vleuten lost touch with the group for a while, but she quickly rectified the imbalance on her own.
A power sprint on an ascending and cobbled finish line had to decide who could bend the stage to their will. Kopecky clung to Longo Borghini’s wheel, but no longer had the strength to get over it.
Silvia Persico did. The Italian was able to hold off Kopecky’s teammate Demi Vollering in the nick of time and was allowed to put her hands in the air. Kopecky eventually finished fourth. Leader Van Vleuten lost no time and finished sixth.
Ride result
1. Silvia Persico
in 4u11’01”
2. Demi Vollering
“
3. Elizabeth Long Borghini
“
4. Lotte Kopecky
“
5. Liane Lippert
“
General classification
Annemiek van Vleuten
in 10u00’02”
Elisha Long Borghini
1:51
Demi Vollering
2:18
Liane Lippert
2:41
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig
2:50
Persico: “I gave everything in one of my last matches in this jersey”
Silvia Persico: “I didn’t feel good in the first part of the race, but my team-mates told me to push through and stay with them.”
“I gave everything because it is one of my last races in this jersey. I am very happy with the stage win, for which I have to thank my fantastic team.”
challenge by the return
winner
unfortunately
rit 1
07/09
19,9 km
Marina de Cudeyo – Marina de Cudeyo (TTT)
Trek-Segafredo
Longo Borghini
rit 2
08/09
106 km
Colindres – Colindres
Van Vleuten
Van Vleuten
rit 3
09/09
96 km
Camargo – Aguilar de Campoo
Brown
Van Vleuten
rit 4
10/09
160 km
Valencia – Segovia
Perch
Van Vleuten
rit 5
11/09
96 km
Madrid – Madrid
Balm
Van Vleuten
7 p.m. 23. Kopecky is in pole position. .
Kopecky is in pole position.
7 p.m. 10 p.m. Under the rag. We are going to sprint with a thinned out package. .
Under the rag. We are going to sprint with a thinned out package.
19 hours 20. The Austrian is ready for the effort. We get a display of power from the favorites. What can Kopecky do? .
The Austrian is there for the effort. We get a display of power from the favorites. What can Kopecky do?
7 p.m. 17. Favorites are coming. It will be difficult for Kiesenhofer. She starts the final climb. .
Favorites are coming
It will be difficult for Kiesenhofer. She starts the final climb.
7:15 pm SD Worx is now going to work. They have positioned themselves in train formation at the front of the remaining platoon. .
SD Worx is now going to work. They have positioned themselves in train formation at the front of the remaining platoon.
7 p.m. 13. We’re off the gravel. Kiesenhofer steams on towards the final climb with a 40″ bonus.
We are off the gravel. Kiesenhofer steams on towards the final climb with a bonus of 40 “.
7 p.m. 12. Kopecky sits thoughtfully in the front. She is of course very good at this job. The door is open at the back. .
Kopecky sits thoughtfully in the front. She is of course very good at this job. The door is open at the back.
6 p.m. 59. Less than a minute. The final has now really started. On a gravel strip 8 kilometers from the end, Kiesenhofer’s lead shrinks like snow in the sun. Yesterday’s winner Grace Brown tries to jump away from the pack. .
Less than a minute
The final has now really started. On a gravel strip 8 kilometers from the end, Kiesenhofer’s lead shrinks like snow in the sun. Yesterday’s winner Grace Brown tries to jump away from the pack.
18 hours 50. With 15 kilometers to go, Kiesenhofer’s lead drops to just under three minutes. That still looks good for the escapee, but of course she should not stop in the spicy final piece. .
With 15 kilometers to go, Kiesenhofer’s lead drops to just under three minutes. That still looks good for the escapee, but of course she should not stop in the spicy final piece.
18 hours 48. SD Worx keeps aloof. It is striking to see how SD Worx keeps aloof in the pursuit. With Lotte Kopecky they still have one of the great favorites for the stage victory in their ranks, but for the time being they are letting other teams take the chestnuts out of the fire. .
SD Worx keeps aloof
It is striking to see how SD Worx keeps aloof in the pursuit. With Lotte Kopecky they still have one of the great favorites for the stage victory in their ranks, but for the time being they are letting other teams take the chestnuts out of the fire.
18 hours 34. The peloton is gaining momentum, but they will have to hurry. Kiesenhofer’s lead is still 4’30”. The Austrian has a patent on companies like this. In Tokyo she crowned herself as Olympic champion in this way. .
The peloton is gaining momentum, but they will have to hurry. Kiesenhofer’s lead is still 4’30”.
The Austrian has a patent on companies like this one. In Tokyo she crowned herself as Olympic champion in this way.
6 pm 25. Anna Kiesenhofer solo. Will the peloton still get a chance? The Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer has taken a big lead on the rest of the field on her own. At 38 kilometers from the end, the lone leader drives 5’35” ahead of the pack. .
Anna Kiesenhofer solo
Will the peloton still get a chance? The Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer has taken a big lead on the rest of the field on her own. At 38 kilometers from the end, the lone leader drives 5’35” ahead of the peloton.
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer has already chosen to try it from afar. 4 p.m. 45.
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer has already chosen to try it from afar.
4 p.m. 41. Standings. Annemiek van Vleuten still shows off in the red jersey. Her tour de force on Thursday gave her a comfortable lead over closest pursuers Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering. Today should not be a problem for the Van Vleuten. .
Rankings
Annemiek van Vleuten still shows off in the red jersey. Her tour de force on Thursday gave her a comfortable lead over closest pursuers Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering. Today should not be a problem for the Van Vleuten.
4 pm 36. Classic final lies Kopecky. With its 160 kilometers, the fourth stage is by far the longest of this Vuelta. The only categorized climb on the course is at the very end, a fourth category climb. The last 2.5 kilometers are never really steep uphill, but the road surface is strewn with small pebbles. Something for the classic types with a good final shot. Lotte Kopecky smells her chance, but world champion Elisa Balsamo will also be interested. .
Classic final lies Kopecky
With its 160 kilometers, the fourth stage is by far the longest of this Vuelta. The only categorized climb on the course is at the very end, a fourth category climb.
The last 2.5 kilometers are never really steep uphill, but the road surface is strewn with small pebbles. Something for the classic types with a good final shot. Lotte Kopecky smells her chance, but world champion Elisa Balsamo will also be interested.
