Mathias Vacekwon the fourth stage of the Tour of Wallonia on Tuesday. In a tricky and rainy hilly stage, the Czech rider from Lidl-Trek attacked in the final and was joined by Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) and the Movistar duo Carlos Canal and Natnael Tesfatsion. However, he beat them all in a sprint.
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Twenty-year-old Davide Donati (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) had caused a big surprise on Monday by winning in the sprint. On Tuesday, it would no longer be up to the fast men, as the organization had laid out a challenging ride through the Ardennes. This included the Côte de la Redoute and the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, which we of course know from Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
An early breakaway of five was quickly reduced to three riders, after which only two brave men remained in the leading group. They were Tom Donnenwirth (Groupama-FDJ) and home rider Vlad Van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious). The pair gained a maximum lead of about three and a half minutes.
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Israel-Premier Tech led the chase, with the peloton gradually closing in on the leaders. At one point, the gap between the two riders at the front and the pack was less than a minute, but shortly afterwards, Donnenwirth had to let his breakaway companion Van Mechelen go. However, the Dutchman would not make it to the finish line solo either.
That honor went to Vacek, with Strong playing a very important role in the final attack. The fast man finished second and secured the leader's jersey. Vacek is now just one second behind in the overall standings, while Oliver Knight of Cofidis is now third, 14 seconds behind. The fifth and final stage will be held on Wednesday.
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.