Matteo Trentin made history in the 2017 Vuelta a Espana today, becoming the 100th rider to win stages in all three of the Grand Tours.
Quick-Step Floors continues their roll at the Vuelta a España, nabbing another stage, number 12 this season in a Grand Tour, a performance last attained by a squad seven years ago. After Yves Lampaert kicked off things on the second day with a beautiful solo attack in the last kilometer, it was now Matteo Trentin’s turn to finish it off and score his first World Tour victory of the season.
The day was one for the sprinters, with only a third-category climb on the course, which didn’t pose any problem to the peloton led by Quick-Step Floors’ Tim Declercq, who controlled the gap of the four-man break and made sure it didn’t go north of six minutes. Once Tim’s job was done, Bob Jungels and Niki Terpstra took over in the last ten kilometers and reeled in the last two escapees, before shutting down a late attack.
Julian Alaphilippe – another Vuelta a España debutant – then came at the head of affairs and stretched out the peloton with two kilometers remaining with a nervous tempo that didn’t allow any other teams to take the reins and master the finale. Yves Lampaert was the last man in front of Matteo, and the Belgian made sure of pumping in the watts and keeping his Italian teammate on his wheel as he negotiated the tricky and technical final meters, before Trentin opened his sprint and emphatically powered to the line, beating Juan Jose Lobato (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Tom Van Asbroeck (Cannondale-Drapac) by several bike lengths.
After catching his breath, an ecstatic Trentin spoke about the final kilometers of the stage: “We took responsibility again today and did the bulk of the work for most of the stage. Tim chased down the breakaway, then Bob and Niki protected me, while Julian and Yves brought me in a great position. I knew the last kilometer was a technical one, with several tight bends, but wasn’t worried at all about it, as I had Yves with me, who showed two days ago how good he is in such a situation. I am really happy I could repay all my teammates for their hard work and come out on top here.”
Matteo’s victory in Tarragona, where the Vuelta a España returned after four years, saw the 28-year-old set a remarkable milestone, as he joined the select club of riders with stage wins in all Grand Tours, becoming the 100th man in history to achieve this remarkable performance.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to have victories in all Grand Tours. I’m very proud to have done this in the jersey of Quick-Step Floors; I came here for a stage win and I’m delighted to get it so early in the race. We’re having a great Vuelta, everyone is giving 100% in the race and we hope to enjoy many other fantastic moments in the next stages”, said Matteo – the new points classication leader – whose all Grand Tour wins came in Lyon, Nancy, Pinerolo and Tarragona, all towns with a strong Roman heritage.
Lobato sprints to second place
Juan José Lobato has become second in the fourth stage of the Vuelta a España. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s 28-year-old rider was very strong in the final and almost sprinted to his second victory of this season. Lobato commenced his sprint early, but the Italian Matteo Trentin was stronger in the end.
On the one hand Lobato was disappointed, but on the other hand his second place was a relief. “I started my season badly. I could train very well the last two months. That is paying off in this Vuelta, but I would like to win a stage”, he stated afterwards.
The technically difficult last kilometres suited the Spanish local very well. “Stef Clement did a great job in the final. By doing so, I could position myself more easily. At three hundred metres before the line, I started sprinting. Unfortunately Trentin was stronger today. Luckily, I will get more chances.”
Lobato’s second place is a boost for Team LottoNL-Jumbo. “Of course it’s a pity that Lobato ended up second in the end, but it was nice to see how we could stay in front in the last fifteenth kilometres”, sports director Engels looked back to the team work. “Furthermore, Lobato showed he can win a stage in this Vuelta. That offers perspectives for the upcoming days.”
Stomach problems hold back Rafal Majka
Still suffering from stomach problems, BORA – hansgrohe leader rafal Majka couldn’t follow the main bunch in the final of a fast, flat stage to Tarragona. Again, he lost some minutes to bury all GC hopes for this Vuelta.
Still suffering from stomach problems, Majka was hardly able to eat during the stage. He kept on fighting like yesterday, but was dropped from the bunch on the last 5k with empty legs.
“Already yesterday I suffered from bad stomach problems,” said Majka. “Today again I couldn’t eat during the stage. I have no energy in my legs and every single kilometer is painful. We hope it will get better soon, but first I have to survive tomorrow, which will be tough. Then we will see how I can recover. The GC is done for me, but the Vuelta is not over yet.”
Stage 4 Brief Results:
- Matteo Trentin (Italy / Quick-Step Floors) 4:43:57″
- Juan Jose Lobato (Spain / LottoNL-Jumbo) ST
- Tom Van Asbroeck (Belgium / Cannondale-Drapac)
- Edward Theuns (Belgium / Trek-Segafredo)
- Jens Debusschere (Belgium / Lotto-Soudal)
- Sacha Modolo (Italy / UAE Team Emirates)
- Lorrenzo Manzin (France / FDJ)
- Soren Kragh (Denmark / Team Sunweb)
- Youcef Reguigui (Algeria / Team Dimension Data)
- Jetse Bol (Netherlands / Manzana Postobon Team)
General Classification After Stage 4:
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 13:37:41″
- David De La Cruz (Spain / Quick-Step Floors) +2″
- Nicolas Roche (Ireland / BMC Racing Team)
- Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing Team)
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Bahrain-Merida) +10″
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica-Scott) +11″
- Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) +38″
- Adam Yates (Britain / Orica-Scott) +39″
- Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale) +48″
- Simon Yates (Britain / Orica-Scott)
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