August 6/14 15:23 pm - Tour of Poland: Stage 4

Posted by Editoress on 08/6/14
 

Jonas Van Genechten turned out to be the strongest rider at the finish line for the 4th stage, the longest one in the 71st Tour de Pologne with its 236 km from Tarnow Gemini Park to Katowice. In a thrilling, high velocity sprint, the Belgian from team Lotto Belisol came out ahead in a photo finish, in front of Italian Jacopo Guarnieri (Astana) and Slovenian Luka Mezgec (Giant Shimano), who already came in second in yesterday’s sprint. A record sprint for Van Genechten with a max speed of 80 km/h. Fourth place for Italian Sacha Modolo (Lampre Merida) and fifth for Belorussian Yauheni Hutarovich (Ag2r La Mondiale). For Van Genechten, Belgian born in 1986, this is his second season success, the first in his career for a World Tour race.

Things got off to a start under the rain which then gave way to sun as the race progressed. The first part of the stage featured a break by five riders: Russians Alexander Rybakov (Katusha) and Andrey Solomennikov (Rusvelo), Belgian Boris Vallee (Lotto Belisol), Frenchman Jerome Cousin (Europcar), and Belorussian Branislau Samoilau (CCC Polsat). However their efforts were promptly annulled by the group being pulled by the men from Omega Pharma – Quick-Step of the yellow jersey Vakoc, as well as the teams of sprinters intent on getting their leaders into the final bunch sprint at Katowice. After that there was an attack by other 3 riders: Pole Mateusz Taciak (CCC Polsat), Austrian Matthias Krizek (Cannondale) and Brit Joshua Edmonson (Team Sky). The trio tried to get away but the pack never let them have more than a 2 minute advantage. In the final the three men got caught by Jerome Cousin (Europcar), who had already made the morning break, and Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz (Reprezentacja Polski); these two were the last to give in to the insurmountable chase by the group, which hit the long straightaway in Katowice in a tight bunch to jostle for victory in the final sprint.

In the general classification Czech Petr Vakoc (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) keeps the yellow Skandia leader’s jersey for the second day in a row. Austrian Matthias Krizek, thanks to the seconds garnered with today’s break, is now in second place, 26” back; following 27” behind are Hutarovich, Bos, Mezgec and Van Genechten.

In the other classifications Mateusz Taciak (CCC Polsat) snatched the cyclamen Tauron jersey for the GPM from his fellow countryman and team mate Maciej Paterski. Matthias Krizek captured the blue Lotto jersey that distinguishes the most active rider in the group. Meanwhile, the white-red Lang Team jersey for the points classification remains on the back of Yauheni Hutarovich. In the team classification Omega Pharma Quick-Step is still one step ahead.
The climbs will begin tomorrow with the 5th stage. It starts from Zakopane and features an all-new climbing arrival at Strbske Pleso in Slovakia.

Post races quotes:

Czeslaw Lang (TDP General Director): “Up to now the race has been fantastic, never a dull moment. The first day there was difficult weather then in the following days we watched stages featuring a high level of competition. Vakoc’s victory in Warsaw was a beautiful moment in the race. In the last few years at the Tour de Pologne a break that got started that far out had never made it all the way to the end. Starting tomorrow we hit the mountains and we will soon see who the strong men are and who came here to contest the GC. Tomorrow we will also see who still has ready legs after 4 tough days of racing. For the Tour de Pologne it will also be a historical stage, since for the first time in the history of the race the arrival will be located in Slovakia. Our race is becoming ever more international and this makes us very proud.”

Jonas Van Genechten (the winner) : “I’m thrilled with this victory, which is definitely the most important of my career. Today the team did a great job and they set me up in the right conditions to bust the sprint. In the final I was in a good position and when the sprint was launched I chose the right timing to come off of the wheels of my adversaries just a few meters from the finish line. It was a very fast sprint which was helped by favorable winds. I hit 80 an hour at the arrival, which was slightly downhill; I practically didn’t get up from the saddle for how fast we were going. For me this is the first time at the Tour de Pologne and I’m impressed by the affection and how much the race is followed. I had already come to Poland for a Cities Trip some time ago, but I have to say that this day will be forever etched in my memory.”

Tourof Poland press release

Results from the fourth stage in Poland