The job as a lead-out man paid off for Maximilano Richeze (Etixx-QuickStep) as he came out on top in the bunch sprint on stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse. Set to work for Fernando Gaviria, the Argentinean was the first rider through the final turn with 140m to go and as his Colombian captain sat up, Richeze could cross the line as the first rider. Gaviria made it a 1-2 for Etixx-QuickStep while third place allowed Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) to extend his overall lead.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Maximiliano Richeze grateful to Gaviria for huge gift in Switzerland

Etixx – Quick-Step's unity and teamwork were displayed once again, this time in stage 4 of Tour de Suisse (Rheinfelden – Champagne, 193 km), when our riders grouped at the front of the peloton with 50 kilometers to go, taking the responsibility and controlling the advantage of the four escapees – Matt Brammeier (Dimension Data), Lukas Jaun (Team Roth), Jeremy Maison (FDJ) and Nick Van der Lijke (Roompot Oranje) – who were enjoying a 3-minute lead at that point. Racing his second World Tour event of the season, Rodrigo Contreras was one of the pillars of the squad, spending a significant amount of energy despite a stiff headwind in order to cut the gap, and his work paid dividends, as the advantage became a slim one with just 20 kilometers remaining, leaving the breakaway within reach.

 

Just as yesterday, Zdenek Stybar and Czech champion Petr Vakoč took over the reins in the final 10 kilometers, pushing a hard pace which seriously stretched out the peloton, not allowing other teams to come to the front, and in the same time making contact with the escapees with around 7 kilometers to go. The super fast pace prevented the attackers from launching any move on the lumpy finishing circuit, so it came down to a bunch gallop, a very dangerous one, because of a sharp right-hand corner which awaited the riders with only 140 meters left of what was the last sprinters' stage at this edition.

 

Leading Fernando Gaviria, Maximiliano Richeze dive-bombed into the final stretch with the Colombian in his wheel, but the 21-year-old neo-pro didn't show any interest in taking the win, preferring to sit up and keep an eye on overall leader Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), who was just behind. Richeze, who's in his first season with Etixx – Quick-Step, crossed the line with his arms high, celebrating a long-awaited victory, while Fernando sealed a flawless 1-2 for the team. A valuable team player, Richeze claimed his first victory in nearly four years, which coincided with Etixx – Quick-Step's 30th win since the start of the season, 8 of which came in World Tour races.

 

The 13th different rider to bring a success to the squad since January, Richeze was lost for words right after the finish, but once he returned from the podium and things calmed down, he talked about his special day:

 

"What a race this was, I still can't believe it! It's like a dream. This morning, at the briefing, we talked about the finale, because we knew the tricky and technical corner will be the key to winning the stage and our plan was to be first and second as we entered in that bend. My sprint was until the corner, but as Fernando didn't try to overtake me, deciding to protect me instead, I went all the way to the line. I want to thank him for this and also to the entire team for their huge work and support!”

 

In the Tour de San Luis, his first race with Etixx – Quick-Step, Maximiliano Richeze wore the leader's jersey, but a crash in which he was involved later in the week forced him to stay out of competition for more than a month, due to a bone fissure on the neck of the left femur. For that reason, the win he got in the Tour de Suisse – where he showed a blistering form – was even more significant and rewarding:

 

”I am always supporting our team, I'm always the last guy before our sprinter goes for it, so to finally have the opportunity to try and get a victory is really great.

 

"The start of the year wasn't easy, with that injury and the recovery period during which I had to walk with the help of a crutch, but these things are in the past and now I am living the day and enjoying this beautiful moment. To be the first Argentinian stage winner in the Tour de Suisse is a big achievement, which makes me proud and happy.

 

"Actually I did the lead-out for Fernando Gaviria. But when I saw that tricky last corner, I realized that the rider who would be the first there would perhaps grab the victory. And I did.

 

"Here I am very happy, normally I do the work for others, now I get the flowers myself."

 

Peter Sagan: You can’t win every time

Riding in the race leader’s yellow jersey, Peter Sagan and his teammates would be riding to protect the race lead, having started the day with a three-second advantage in the GC competition.

 

The UCI World Champion was supported well by his teammates, and while on the difficult finishing stretch he was able to position himself well round the final, treacherous bend, he was just beaten to the line. Part of a final group of three riders after a rider almost crashing slowed the bunch, the UCI World Champion was just unable to pass the second placed rider, taking third. After fighting hard to control the pace and protect his yellow race leader’s jersey, he simply wasn’t able to improve his position on the final turn at the end of a hard day’s racing.

 

From the race’s finish, Sagan was comfortable with the day’s outcome.

 

"It was a very tough stage with a strong headwind and the squad did a very good job in protecting and supporting me. However, one can't always win and other riders proved faster in the final sprint.”

 

Sport Director, Patxi Vila was thrilled with the result. While the day didn’t end in a third straight win for Sagan, it showed how well the team could work together and protect the jersey.

 

“We tried for a third win today, but in the end the hat trick wasn't possible. I'm still really happy - we pulled all day, honoured the yellow jersey and we were able to settle on the right break, which was hard as lots of people wanted to be in the move. Bodnar and Petrov did a great job to keep the job at a maximum of four minutes, they pulled for around 180km which was really strong. Then we got the help of Etixx in bringing it back for the sprint. The other guys took over for the sprint and did a good job for Peter. Gatto brought him into the sprint, and at the end Peter came through third. There was a tricky section at 150m to go and he was third through here and wasn't able to pass.”

Taking the bonus time on the line and finishing two seconds ahead of the bunch, the Tinkoff leader finishes the day having extended his lead in the GC, as well as his lead in the points contest for the black jersey. Vila was happy with the team’s performance so far.

 

“We showed again that we were able to control the race today and still challenge at the end. Our goal for the first four days was to win a stage and we've come away with two and yellow so we're more than happy.”

 

Sagan was quick to praise his teammates’ efforts in the opening stages, particularly after they had worked so hard today.

 

“I'm very satisfied with keeping the leader's and points jerseys and I look forward to five more stages where we will work hard to achieve the best result. I'd like to thank my teammates for the strong effort they have put in the first four, tough and wet stages at the Tour de Suisse."

 

Tomorrow, the race hits the mountains. The 126.4km stage may be short, but it crosses two of the toughest – and most stunning – climbs in Switzerland. The Furkapass is the day’s first climb, coming after a long slow ascent from the start. The Hors Catégorie climb is one of the hardest of the race, topping out at 2,436m, and will have riders in the red before the climb up the Gotthardpass. The final Hors Catégorie climb brings the day to a close. After some comparatively flat days, this is where the GC race will begin to take shape. Vila was looking to the team members who had completed the recent Giro d’Italia to assess their climbing legs.

 

“Tomorrow we will see. We go into the climbs - Boaro is still riding well on GC and we'll support him to try and maintain this. He comes here from the Giro so it's not predictable form, we will support him and see what he can do. Otherwise we'll try and get in the breaks in the coming days and go for results this way too.”

 

Tom Van Asbroeck shows great form, Kelderman ready for the mountains

LottoNL-Jumbo’s Tom van Asbroeck placed fourth today in the Tour of Switzerland stage four to Champagne. The Belgian placed behind winner Max Richeze (Etixx), Fernando Gaviria (Etixx) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

 

Wilco Kelderman took 14th in the 193-kilometre stage, but slipped to eighth because Richeze gained bonus seconds.

 

"It was a long day, we had headwind so the peloton could not really gain speed,” said Sports Director Jan Boven. "In the last hour, though, it especially started to get hectic."

 

"At 22 kilometres remaining, Kelderman punctured, but fortunately, we had men with him quickly and he re-started rapidly. After Kelderman returned to the peloton, the team immediately drove him towards the front. We had planned to be in the front for the last climb, and we did that. We knew it was open on top of the climb and that there was a risk of the peloton splitting. Because the team kept Kelderman ahead, Tom van Asbroeck could start the sprint in the front."

 

"It was still a little gamble with nasty corners. The roundabouts in the final kilometre made sure that we arrived in a long line to the final corner,” said van Asbroeck. “I am happy that my form is increasingly better. Today, we had a real sprinters’ stage, which wasn’t the case in the other days so far.

 

“The coming days will be heavy, I'm going to try to help Kelderman as much as possible and also to improve my form. The past few days have been good for me in view of the Belgian championship." 

 

"The final was still hectic, but Paul Martens kept in front of me and that was ideal,” Kelderman said. “Tomorrow we are going to really climb, I'm wondering how that will go.

 

“I feel good and have remained in front despite the hectic pace. This gives us confidence for the mountain stages to come.

 

”After the puncture, I was quickly brought back by the team and then I immediately got to the front. That finale had many curves, but I could maintain my position well.

 

“It is obviously a shame to have lost Gesink. We lack a strong man at my side. We both went for the GC and for me that is still the goal.”

 

Kelderman starts the mountain stage tomorrow 23 seconds behind overall leader Sagan. The stage is short, 126 kilometres between Brig and Cari, but with many climbs.

 

"Tomorrow we will see other guys on the front,” added Boven. "We have a long run uphill to the top of the Furka Pass, then the Gothardpass, and the finish is uphill to Cari. We will see the general classification men in front tomorrow.”

 

Jasper Stuyven: Sagan and Van Poppel were going nuts

It was a slow-paced stage four at the Tour de Suisse until the final thorny 15 or so kilometers when the fight for the stage win amplified.

 

The lackadaisical peloton awoke and jumped into action ahead of the final category-three climb followed by a tricky descent and twisty roads until it all culminated with a tight right-hander 100 meters from the line. 

 

It was a race for the precariously placed final corner, the battle won by Etixx-Quick Step who went one-two over the line, while Jasper Stuyven managed to avoid an incident in the dangerous turn to sprint to fifth.

 

"It was really nervous and really fast final kilometers," said Stuyven. "Rasty (Gregory Rast) did a good job keeping me up there and out of the wind, it was a perfect job, and then I think with one and a half kilometers to go Kiel (Reijnen) was there and brought me with one effort to the front. Then I was up there fighting with Gaviria and Sagan. 

 

"Going into the last corner Sagan and Van Poppel were going nuts and I was sure someone wasn't going to make it through, and I was right because Danny crashed. I calculated for that, and as a result, I was almost standing still to go around, and then one guy passed me on the line.

 

”So fifth, yeah… It was good to be up there, that was nice, but sometimes some guys go a little bit too crazy.”

 

It was a tranquil day for most of the 193 kilometers, and the peloton was far behind the slowest schedule. However, as the finish line neared the sleeping dragon awoke in dramatic fashion, turning a somnolent affair into a kamikaze-like fight right to the final bend.

 

"It was a little bit because of the headwind, and also because there are a lot of dead bodies," explained Reijnen about the slow pace for most of the race. "A lot of kanonenfutter in the peloton today. In the end, I think that was one of the most dangerous final 20 kilometers I have ever done.

 

"It was a really, really big fight and Rast did a super job with Jasper all the way to five kilometers to go or so. I was just behind them, waiting for the right moment, and with around two kilometers to go I saw the moment, and I went up and got Jasper and took him to just under a kilometer and put him on the Tinkoff train.

 

"It was a little early to leave him, I wish I had a little more in the legs, but we did the best with what we had today. It has been a really hard tour so far, and fifth is not something to shout about, but still we can be a little bit satisfied."

 

Michael Matthews gives Magnus Cort the chance to sprint in Switzerland

Danish rider Magnus Cort used his technically ability today to sprint to sixth place on stage four of the WorldTour race, Tour de Suisse.

 

The day was once again animated by an early breakaway, with the peloton leaving it late, coming down to the final three kilometres when the escapees were finally swallowed up just in time for a technical sprint finish with a tight corner 150metres to go.

 

Etixx-Quickstep took the lead around the bend and went on to seal the top two spots on the podium as Cort held on for sixth place for ORICA-GreenEDGE, two seconds behind the race winner Maximiliano Richeze (Etixx-Quickstep).

 

"It was a pretty eventless day until the final," Sport director Neil Stephens. "A break of four went up the road, the boys were able to just sit in the bunch all the way and wait until the final.

 

"Tinkoff and Etixx-Quickstep did a great job of bringing the break back and we placed ourselves in the second line getting ready for the sprint and the guys made sure they were well positioned.

 

"It was a pretty dangerous circuit, there was a lot of turns, a lot of roundabouts and traffic islands, so position was really crucial. We had to spend a lot of energy to make sure we didn't lose position.

 

"It was good the boys went out there and committed to try and give Magnus a good chance at a result today which was fantastic. 

 

"The guys themselves chose to ride for Magnus today and he did well, maybe he could have finished a position or two better as the guy in front nearly crashed on the corner but anyway it was still a good result."

 

Warren Barguil ready for the mountains: I hope I will be in good shape

With the main aim not to lose any time in today’s stage, Giant-Alpecin worked well together to support Warren Barguil across the 193km course. Barguil even disputed the sprint and finished in 10th place. The Frenchman is currently 27th in the general classification with Simon Geschke still the best ranked rider in 11th place before the race hits the mountains tomorrow.

 

Warren Barguil said: “I was happy it was not raining today because the finale was very tricky. Once again my teammates made everything much easier and they protected me very well throughout the stage. I think the team is very strong here and I have really good support. I’m now looking forward to tomorrow with the first stage in the mountains and I hope I will be in good shape.”

 

Coach Morten Bennekou added: “Today was a very long day with not a lot happening during the stage as the peloton controlled the four-man break without any problems. We managed to protect Warren and he finished really well in the hectic finale with a lot of technical corners. We are now looking forward to the high mountains which start from tomorrow.”

 

FDJ neo-pro tests himself at WorldTour level in Switzerland

FDJ had neo-pro Jeremy Maison in the break.

 

"With just four riders and ad headwind, it was a bad start,” he told L’Equipe. “But we agreed to accelerate from km 160. The gap rose to two minutes. I thought that maybe Tinkoff would get no help as (Peter) Sagan is very strong. Unfortunately, Etixx-Quick Step began to chase.

 

“It's a good experience. This is the first year that I'm just focused on cycling since I finished my physiotherapy studies last year. I have already made ​​much progress. As I continue, I get more strength and learn how to understand the peloton. I will try again…"

 

Good news inspire Matt Brammeier to attack in Switzerland

From the start, 4 riders formed the break of the day and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were represented in the form of Matt Brammeier.

 

With a slight headwind it was difficult to open the gap up to more than 3’40” over the peloton. Brammeier used his experience though and helped to pace the break well, a tactic which made for an exciting finale in the end. With 20km to go, it was just Brammeier, Jeremy Maison (FDJ) and Nick Van der Lijke (Roompot) out front by 1’30”.

 

The 3 leaders had something left in the tank which they would then empty in the run to the line. With Tinkoff and Etixx chasing furiously from the peloton, Brammeier and company would come up 3km short, a brave effort nonetheless

 

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka had Reinardt Janse van Rensburg mixing it up in the sprint finale and the South African came across the line in 12th place on the stage. The Tour de Suisse now moves into some more mountainous terrain where the climbers will hope to thrive.

 

Brammeier said:

 

“I got some good news yesterday which made me super happy and when I am happy I tend to race my bike pretty well. I went out there from km 0 with the plan of doing exactly what I did. We played a good game of poker with the peloton but eventually we came up 2-3km’s short and it didn’t quite work out. I gave it a good go, was happy with the feeling I had and of course displayed the giant Q for Qhubeka on my back for a few hours.”

 

Danny Van Poppel miraculously avoids big crash in Swizerland

Danny van Poppel's chances of winning stage four at the Tour de Suisse were ended when he nearly crashed 150 metres from the finish in Champagne.

 

The Dutchman appeared to clip wheels with Peter Sagan heading into the final bend and he was forced wide into the barriers, but somehow managed to stay upright and avoid a high-speed crash.

 

Van Poppel looked to be perfectly positioned for the final charge to the line but he was denied the opportunity to battle it out for the win, which was claimed by Maximiliano Richeze (Etixx - Quick-Step), with team-mate Fernando Gaviria sealing a one-two for the Belgian team. Race leader Sagan finished third to keep the yellow jersey.

 

Ahead of Van Poppel, who rolled over the line in 26th, team leader Geraint Thomas finished safely in 13th, although the Welshman slipped from ninth to tenth overall and is now 25 seconds back on Sagan, before the race hits the mountains on stage five.

 

 

Rui Costa safely through dangerous day in Switzerland

For LAMPRE-MERIDA, Rui Costa was very good in mantaining the front position of the peloton and was in the first half when the peloton split after the 70th place.
 

Rui Costa was 15th at the finish line. In the front group, for LAMPRE-MERIDA also had Cimolai (54th), Polanc (61st) and Arashiro (67th).

 

In the general classification, which is still led by Sagan, Rui Costa is 29th at 51″.

 

”This time the rain showed us mercy despite the predictions,” he wrote in his diary. “There was no rain but we had a lot of wind to disturb our work. An almost flat stage gave a lot of stress and a lot of speed. The peloton set a very fast pace and with the help of a strong wind, ​​this made the stage harder than we thought. We managed to save the day and avoid crashes and we are pleased with that.”

 

Gorka Izagirre helps his brother avoid time loss at the Tour de Suisse

Stage four of the Tour de Suisse - 193km between Rheinfelden and Champagne - ended up on the hands of Etixx-QuickStep as their duo Richeze-Gaviria took the day's leading two places into the sprint against GC leader Peter Sagan (TNK). A dangerous corner right with 150m to go meant Gorka Izagirre had to use full energy until the finish line to avoid a split between Rui Costa (LAM) and him which could have given a small loss for both him and team-mate Ion in the GC, just before the big mountains start on Wednesday with two HC climbs and the Cat-1 Carì at the finish.

 

It took 20km before a slippery, four-man break including Brammeier (DDD), Maison (FDJ), Jaun (ROT) and Van der Lijke (ROP) held a significant gap. Peter Sagan's Tinkoff squad kept the peloton well organized and always under four minutes' gap behind the leading group, and the 100+ kilometers between the cols of Breithöhe (Cat-2; 8km at 4.4% average) and Orges (Cat-3), combined with good weather finally joining the race - an extra release of difficulty for the Jaimerena/Laguía-directed squad, which faced headwinds all day long - all guaranteed a group sprint that leaves Ion and Gorka Izagirre in fifth and seventh overall before the hellish second half of the Helvetic stage race.

 

Michele Scarponi curious to test his form in Swiss mountain stages.

"I'm curious too,” said Michele Scarponi. “Tomorrow is the first of a series of difficult stages. Who wants to win the Tour de Suisse will have to come out. 

 

"I did a great Giro d’Italia but I also used a lot of energy. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, so I'm curious.”

 

"The boys did a good job,” said Astana sports director Dmitri Sedoun. “Tomorrow there are three very demanding climbs and the team will work in support of our two climbers: Scarponi and Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno.”

 

Tejay van Garderen ready for first big test after good start in Switzerland

Silvan Dillier crossed the line in the bunch to hold on to third on the General Classification and retain his best-placed Swiss rider jersey.

 

Tejay van Garderen sits in 18th place on the General Classification, 41 seconds behind race leader Sagan, heading into the first mountain stage tomorrow.

 

BMC sports director Fabio Baldato said:

 

“The first four stages of the Tour de Suisse were the only opportunities for the sprinters so now that they’re out of the way the race for the GC will really start. I’m happy with the way the team rode so far. Silvan Dillier had a great ride on stages one and three, and the team has done a great job protecting our team leader, Tejay van Garderen, and making sure he doesn’t lose any time.

 

“Tomorrow is the first mountain stage and it will be a good opportunity for Tejay to test his legs and for the team to continue their great work.”

 

Simon Spilak and Katusha save energy for Swiss mountain stages

It was one more stage for the sprinters at the 80th Tour de Suisse on Tuesday’s stage 4 from Rheinfelder to Champagne and now the race heads into the mountains for the remainder of the week. This made today a day of defense.

 

”Our goal today was to save energy for our GC guys before we really start with the climbs tomorrow – the high, high, long climbs. Today was the last ‘easy’ stage when we compare them to the ones to come. We knew to expect the headwind today, so we planned for that and worked only for our GC riders to defend their positions, sending no one in the break for extra work. After tomorrow we will see where everyone is on the classification,” said sports director Torsten Schmidt.

 

Sergei Chernetckii is 15th in GC.

 

Mathias Frank: If there had been rain, the stage would have done serious damage

“I did not have the legs for such a technical and dangerous final,” IAM’s Reto Hollenstein said after the stage. “ But I am convinced that it’ll go better in the difficult mountain stages to come.  We fought all day against a strong headwind, and even though the rain held off mostly, we used a lot of energy.  In the final kilometers, it was extremely nervous and you had to give everything not to be split off.”

 

“Danilo Wyss told me that the finale would be a mere formality,” his teammate Mathias Frank said. “Fortunately, the rain spared us otherwise there would have been serious damage with this circuit and then at the finish.”

 

Rik Verbrugghe, sports manager for IAM Cycling, gave his assessment:

 

“We were not well placed for the final.  I don’t understand why they would have such a dangerous corner so close to the finish line.  I am happy not to have to lament any resulting injuries to our riders.  After being heavily rained on these past few stages, the guys needed a break.  However, the headwind ended up making this transition stage tough enough.  For tomorrow, the first real mountain challenges will change the game.”