Tinkoff-Saxo’s Bruno Pires finished fifth behind Rohan Dennis on stage 4 of USA Pro Challenge, where the riders faced a difficult finishing section with a punchy climb in thin air. Sports Director Lars Michaelsen notes that Pires has turned into the team’s best GC card, as the riders embark on the decisive time trial Friday. Ivan Rovny withdrew from the race due to back pain. 

After three categorized climbs and 203 kilometers in the thin air in Colorado, Bruno Pires finished 5th, 23 seconds down on stage winner Rohan Dennis.

“Bruno Pires performed well today and he has turned into the team’s protected rider. Roman Kreuziger made a very dedicated effort to put pressure on BMC, who are very strong here, and he rode well although we knew that the breakaway attempt stood a very slim chance to make it. However, no risk, no reward but it would have been if Cannondale had been in the attempt with us. However, they weren’t and they had to take up the chase together with BMC”, says Lars Michaelsen, sports director of Tinkoff-Saxo.

“As we went into the finale with a punchy climb, Pires came to the front. I suggested that he focused on starting the climb near the front of the bunch and afterwards he said that Jesus Hernandez and Felix Grossschartner had made a great effort to position him and that he could feel the importance of not having to work his way to the front, as the road kicked up. Now, Pires is 16th in the GC but the time differences are not that substantial. We have a hard time trial at altitude on our hands. He is motivated and he will do his very best, then we’ll see whether he gains positions in the GC or not”, adds Michaelsen.

Ivan Rovny unfortunately abandoned USA Pro Challenge on stage 4 due to significant back pain.

“Rovny suffered a crash during Tour de Pologne that affected his back and after a series of hard accelerations on stage 4 in Colorado this injury returned effectively blocking the transmission of power into the pedals. He fought hard to continue, but with a back injury like this, there’s nothing you can do”, finishes Lars Michaelsen.