Ganna (with Ayuso) creates chaos in the echelons, but couldn't compete for the win because of van der Poel: "Mathieu hurt me"

Ganna's goal in the fourth stage was clear. "We wanted to win the stage today," he said in a press statement. But a stage win was not the only mission. "Yesterday and today, we wanted to test the legs and succeeded. In the end, the leader of the GC wasn't good enough in the sprint (seventh), mainly due to Mathieu van der Poel. 'I felt some cramp on the last hill, and Mathieu hurt me, which meant I couldn't sprint for the win like I wanted to."

After four days, the INEOS Grenadiers time trialist is still at the top of the GC, but the stages are getting tougher and tougher. "I'm a big guy, so winning the GC at Tirreno will be difficult. I'll need to lose another five or six kilos," he says honestly. A tough final awaits on Friday, with lots of climbing. "But we are here now, and every day, we show that the team belongs here. If I exhaust myself too much tomorrow, it will be time to consider rest and recovery for Milan-Sanremo."

Ayuso joined Ganna with 45 kilometers to go. Together, they tried to cause chaos in the peloton, but the plan failed. "On the one hand, I enjoyed riding in the echelons because I could stay at the front and avoid some stress, but on the other hand, I could have easily crashed," the Spaniard from UAE Team Emirates-XRG said about his day. "It was quite stressful, especially at the top, with the descent afterward. Then it happened again in the valley with six other riders. It was challenging and very cold, but I managed to survive. These temperatures make me very tired, and today will impact the next two days of racing."

Friday will be a difficult stage for the riders. The finale is particularly challenging, with two relatively short climbs, but the location will make for a spectacular stage. The last climb can be deceiving: the Monterolo has gradients of around 10 percent. If the climbs get to the hips, it could be a tough day for men like Ganna and Van der Poel, who, as classic types, normally see their chance in the test to Pergola. With wind force six, it could be a long day full of echelons again. In any case, it will not get cold anymore. So get ready to enjoy!