Trek Factory Racing continued its streak of top five finishes as Jasper Stuyven sprinted to 5th place in the tough uphill finish of the 193.2-kilometer stage four at the Tour de Suisse.

Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) clinched the victory and paid back the huge effort by his team in whittling down the peloton and shedding the pure sprinters from the bunch sprint.

With fastmen Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Mark Cavendish (Etixx Quick Step) unable to hold on to the peloton over the last tough climbs, the finishing sprint was wide open; Trek Factory Racing rallied around Jasper Stuyven, helping him into good position in the finale as he was more than ready to test his legs with the better odds. 

He was in the front five positions coming into the final kilometer, and in second wheel with 500 meters to go, but it was too early to kick into high gear and there was a moment’s hesitation that would prove costly.

“I was in really good position, but I didn’t have the power I think, especially if you look at the four guys in front of me and this kind of finish,” explained Stuyven. “It was a good finish for me normally. With 500 meters to go, [Daryl] Impey swung off and Van Avermaet slowed down, and then I was forced to accelerate again and there I missed some power.

“It was uphill the last kilometer, and when you go full gas and then have to slow down you feel the legs fill with lactic acid, and then you have to start again. If you look at the sprint it was all strung out – it was a really hard finish, and a really hard day today. I am happy; of course you always wish to do more, but if I look at the guys in front of me…I need to work on some power, I think.”

Stage four began with a five-man breakaway escaping around the 10-kilometer mark, and Stijn Devolder jumped into the day’s move as planned. Although the peloton was reluctant to grant a huge gap and the breakaway was ultimately caught with over 50 kilometers remaining, it was a strategic move.

“They didn’t give us so much time, not more than four minutes; it was a very hard day,”admitted Devolder. “There was a very long way to go when we went, and I didn’t believe we were going to make it to the end since there are a few teams here that have only one or two chances for results. I expected they would chase us down. 

“But it was the team plan for a few of us to try and get in the break to make it easier for the others. It was good for me to be in the break, to confirm my condition, so it was good in the end, but it was a super hard day.”

There was a brief scare with a crash in the final 200 meters that created splits and costly time gaps that initially had Bob Jungels losing 18 seconds. But under the three-kilometer ruling everyone was granted the same finishing time, leaving Jungels still sitting in 9th place overall (+22”). 

Julian Arredondo finished 15th for the stage and also maintained his 11th place (+22”). Trek Factory Racing enters the tough queen stage tomorrow in good position and will fight to hold onto its top GC places.