Aurelien Paret-Peintre of the Ag2r team took Stage 4 of the 2023 Giro d’Italia, with DSM’s Andreas Leknessund taking over the Maglia Rosa from Remco Evenpoel.
Stage 4 was the toughest day of the race so far, with 3,547m of climbing and almost no flat roads in sight. The climbing started almost from the start in Venosa where they were met with a series of three short climbs that set up the early break of seven riders.
The Passo delle Crocelle (13.3km at 4.3%) and the Valico Monte Carruozzo (17.7km at 3.9%), while significant Category 2 tests, did not affect the break, and with 40km, the group of 7 held a lead of over 4 minutes over the peloton. With Warren Barguil, Andreas Leknessund, and Toms Skujins in the break, however, that was expected to erode.
The Colle Molella (9.5km at 6.1%) was a brute and decided who went on to win in Lago Laceno.
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Aurélien Paret-Peintre said: “The Giro d’Italia was my main objective this year. I came to ride for GC but we also knew that today was a good day for a breakaway and we wanted a stage win for the team. It was super hard in the last climb but after that I knew that my companion was going for the Maglia Rosa and the stage win was for me. I’m delighted.”
The Maglia Rosa Andreas Leknessund said: “Being a cyclist, the Maglia Rosa is something you dream of. It will remain in my memory for the rest of my life. There was a big fight for making the breakaway with the Maglia Rosa probably up for grabs. I felt good in the first attacks. I was almost in every move. It was hard but I did a good race. The breakaway eventually went in a downhill. It was nice to get a gap and at the end, I’m here with the Maglia Rosa. I know myself well enough, so I knew that I shouldn’t go too hard in the first part of the last climb. I tried to stay calm. Maybe I could have done something different but at the end I got the maximum out of today.”
Stage 4 Brief Results:
- Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) in 4h16’04”
- Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) +02″
- Toms Skujiņš (Trek-Segafredo) +57″
- Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa) s.t.
- Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +1’02”
- Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo) +1’07”
- Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma) +2’01”
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) s.t.
- Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) s.t.
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-hansgrohe) s.t
General Classification after Stage 4:
- Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)
- Remco Evenpoel (Soudal Quick Step) at 28″
- Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) at 30″
- Joao Almeida (Team UAE) at 1’00”
- Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) at 1’12”
Jerseys:
- Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it – Jon
athan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) - Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)
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