Tour de France 2023 – Škoda at the Race

2023 marks 20 years of supplying the Tour de France ‘red car’ – the most famous car in cycling.

The Daily Peloton continues its Tour de France preview with a look at this year’s model, the all electric Škoda Enyaq iV and receives some insight into life on the road with full time occupants, race director Christian Prudhomme and driver Gilles Maignan.

Škoda‘s first car supplied to the Tour de France in 2004, used by then Director of the Tour de France, Jean-Marie Leblanc, was a Superb Mk1, a diesel with a top speed of 134mph. For this year’s event the Tour de France is using the Škoda Enyaq iV all electric which debuted at the race on three stages in 2020.

2004 Red Car – Škoda Superb Gen I2023 Red Car – Škoda Enyaq iV
DieselElectric
Manual transmissionAutomatic transmission
140 PS201 PS
9.9s 0-62mph8.5s 0-62mph
134 mph top speed99 mph top speed

Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France, commented: Škoda is an important partner of the Tour de France and the Škoda car number 1 is my office for each stage. The car is a sort of control tower that receives all the information of what is happening on the race route before the arrival of the riders (demonstrations, potential blockage, road and weather conditions).

“Over the course of the 3,500 km race I can spend anywhere between two to nine hours in the car number 1 each day. Needless to say I do spend a large portion of the month of July in the back seat of a Škoda.”

The race director’s Škoda Enyaq iV is not the same as you would pickup from your local showroom. It is a conversion from an Enyaq SportLine carried out by prototype builders Best Modell, under the supervision of Škoda engineers. As part of the transformation, a sunroof was installed above the rear seats while the standard roof bars were made higher to make them easier to hold when the car was in motion. The conversion team also had to design and source a new centre console and cooling cabinet for the traditional bottle of champagne. To ensure that the vehicle’s additional equipment didn’t affect the Enyaq’s driving range, the team installed two 75 ampere batteries in the boot floor. The design was completed by new champagne flute holders, designed and 3D printed in-house by Best Modell.

Škoda Enyaq iV with Race Director Christian Prudhomme

In addition to the body modifications, the Enyaq comes with a number of features that increase its environmental credentials. Among these are special tyres developed by Continental (Major Partner of the Tour de France) specifically for the Enyaq. Used on all Enyaq support models on the event, the special tyres feature carcasses made entirely from recycled PET materials.

Q&A with Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France

How important is the role of the lead car to ensure the race runs smoothly?

Each car has a vital role in the smooth running of the race. Whether it be a Director or a Commissaire car, everyone plays their role to ensure the safe running of the Tour de France for all the parties involved. Car number 1 is a sort of control tower that receives all the information of what is happening on the race route before the arrival of the riders.

How do you work with Škoda to improve the car to support you in your role?

Škoda is an important partner and plays a key and obvious role in the organisation of the Tour de France due to the fact that it is an event where we are almost constantly on the move. We ensure to collect our feedback and share it with Škoda so they can best adapt (if needed) their vehicles for the very specific usage that we have on the Tour de France.

Q&A with Gilles Maignan, Driver of Race Direction Car Number 1

The Race Direction Car Number 1 is driven by two-time French time trial champion, Gilles Maignan. Maignan retired from the sport in 2001 and was asked by Christian Prudhomme to be his driver after he had previously driven him in a VIP car during Prudhomme’s days working for French TV.

In order to take this important role within the race, Maignan first had to obtain an FCC driving license and is required to attend training sessions specific to driving in the Tour de France. Professional cyclists are often recruited to drive inside the race as they know how to anticipate and react according to the movements of the cyclists and peloton. Each year the lead car driver schedules debrief sessions with Škoda to share feedback gathered from all Tour drivers to help improve the vehicles for future Tours.

What are the best car developments over the years that have benefited you?

The switch to automatic gearboxes has really simplified the driving from inside a cycling race, especially for uphill portions. Also, the dashboard on the Superb shows exactly how many kilometres you have driven to the first decimal, which is very important in a cycling race to know how far you are from the finish. We have recently switched to hybrid vehicles which allows me to be in electric mode between the Fictive Start and Real Start of each stage, which is appreciated by the riders who have to stay right behind me on this section.

How does it feel to lead the peloton?

It changes a bit from back when I was a rider. I have an important responsibility to lead out the best riders on the biggest professional cycling race in the world and my job is to help Christian Prudhomme ensure a safe race for everyone, including the spectators.

How do the cars communicate with each other and how has it changed?

This is done through radio communication as it has proven to be the most effective and direct way to communicate, especially when you reach some very remote areas of France where telephone signal can be scarce.

Are there any speed limits that need to be adhered to?

Yes, we cannot go over 50 mph (80 km/h) except for the downhills if a rider is catching up to me. However, the main rule imposed by the UCI is that we cannot go over 12mph (20km/h) faster than the speed of riders.

The Tour de France runs from 1-23 July, starting in the Basque city of Bilbao and finishing on the iconic Champs Elysee in Paris. The race, comprising 21 stages and covering a distance of 3,404-km, features five mountain stages and a sole time-trial of 22km on stage 16. The official race website is here.

Tour de France 2023 – Race Route and Team List

The Tour de France runs from 1-23 July, starting in the Basque city of Bilbao and finishing on the iconic Champs Elysee in Paris. The race, comprising 21 stages and covering a distance of 3,404-km, features five mountain stages and a sole time-trial of 22km on stage 16.

Stage List

DateStage # Start- FinishDistance
01/07Stage 1 | Bilbao – Bilbao182
02/07Stage 2 | Vitoria-Gasteiz – San Sébastián209
03/07Stage 3 | Amorebieta-Etxano – Bayonne185
04/07Stage 4 | Dax – Nogaro182
05/07Stage 5 | Pau – Laruns165
06/07Stage 6 | Tarbes – Cauterets-Cambasque145
07/07Stage 7 | Mont-de-Marsan – Bordeaux170
08/07Stage 8 | Libourne – Limoges201
09/07Stage 9 | Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat – Puy de Dôme184
10/07Rest Day
11/07Stage 10 | Vulcania – Issoire167
12/07Stage 11 | Clermont-Ferrand – Moulins180
13/07Stage 12 | Roanne – Belleville-en-Beaujolais169
14/07Stage 13 | Châtillon-Sur-Chalaronne – Grand Colombier138
15/07Stage 14 | Annemasse – Morzine les Portes du Soleil152
16/07Stage 15 | Les Gets les Portes du Soleil – Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc180
17/07Rest Day
18/07Stage 16 (ITT) | Passy – Combloux22
19/07Stage 17 | Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc – Courchevel166
20/07Stage 18 | Moûtiers – Bourg-en-Bresse186
21/07Stage 19 | Moirans-en-Montagne – Poligny173
22/07Stage 20 | Belfort – Le Markstein133
23/07Stage 21 | Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines – Paris115

Stage details can be found on the official Tour de France website here

Team List (correct as at 30 June 2023)

Giro d’Italia Final: Roglic Eternally in Pink. Cavendish conquers Rome.

Stage 21 (Final): Roma to Roma (126km)

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) sealed the overall win in Rome this Sunday, while Mark Cavendish riding his last Giro finally claimed the stage win that eluded him through the Italy campaign.

Cavendish enjoyed a lead out from an unlikely source in his bid for glory, none other than long term friend Geraint Thomas. The Manx man took full advantage of the Welsh gift and powered ahead to beat Alex Kirsch (Trek – Segafredo) and Filippo Fiorelli (Green Project – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) who finished second and third respectively.

Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Mark Cavendish said: “I am super happy, it’s been an incredible day. My team mates have done a great job. My first win was in 2008, to be here again it’s unbelievable. It was very nice to see a lot of colleagues and friends happy for me after the finish like Geraint Thomas.”

Photo credit: Giro d’Italia

Roglič just had to ensure that he finished near the front in Rome to secure his first giro victory so the day was a relaxed affair for most of the peloton which allowed a break of

Giro d’Italia winner Primož Roglič said in the press conference: “There’s so much emotion going on after my time trial win yesterday. This was my first time in Rome. The scenery is incredible. It makes me happy to be part of the history with the position I have and I want to say a big thanks to everyone involved. Every Grand Tour is a challenge. I can’t compare my win at the Giro with the Tour or La Vuelta. The Giro was what I was hunting for this year. I wish it was easier to win but it was a pleasure to fight with Geraint Thomas who is a good friend of mine. Having beaten him here won’t affect our relationship.”

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 14″
3 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’15”
4 – Damiano Caruso (Bahrain – Victorious) at 4’40”
5 – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) at 5’43”

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI and produced with SITIP recycled fabrics.

  • Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
  • Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it – Jonathan 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 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)

Final GC and Stage 21 Results

Full results here on procyclingstats.com

Evenepoel Back in Pink

Remco Evenepoel won Stage 9 ITT to take the Maglia Rosa but Geraint Thomas, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Stefan Küng were within four seconds of the Belgian.

STAGE RESULTS
1 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – 35 km in 41’24″, average speed 50.725 km/h
2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 1″
3 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) at 2″. 

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 45″
3 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) at 47″
4 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) at 50″
5 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’07”

Remco Evenepoel in full flight
May 14, 2023 Savignano sul Rubicone, Italy – Sport – Cycling – Giro d’Italia 2023 – 106th Edi
tion – Stage 9 – From Savignano sul Rubicone to Cesena (Technogym Village Tutor ITT). Photo Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse

Cesena (Technogym Village), 14 May 2023 – Remco Evenepoel claimed his second individual time trial victory of the Giro but the finish could not be much tighter with Geraint Thomas (1’’), Tao Geoghegan Hart (2’’) and Stefan Küng (4’’) breathing down his neck at the end.

The Belgian started strongly but weakened towards the end of the 35km course. He moved back in the Maglia Rosa with an advantage of 45’’ over Thomas, 47’’ over Primoz Roglic and 50’’ over Geoghegan Hart, making it a top 4 of only Grand Tour overall winners before the first rest day. Previous leader Andreas Leknessund now sits in sixth position with a deficit of 1’07’’.

“What made things even more special was that I did it on Mother’s Day and my whole family here. It was nice to get their support and see them at the finish. It wasn’t easy today with the rain and the cold temperatures, but I’m happy I could pull it off”, said Evenepoel, the only rider with two victories so far at this Giro, after retaking the maglia rosa.

“In the first part of the time trial I paced myself a bit too hard, and then, in the headwind, my legs didn’t turn as fast as in those opening kilometers. I could also feel the damage from the crashes of this week, and in the end it was quite tight, but I’m delighted I could prevail and claim this beautiful pink jersey. It’s nice to have an advantage in the GC before the mountains and I will try to enjoy every moment in the maglia rosa, but for the moment I’m looking forward to recovering on the first rest day before seeing what the next stages have in store”, added Remco, the first Belgian rider in 22 years to amass four days as leader of the Corsa Rosa.

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI and produced with SITIP recycled fabrics.

  • Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
  • Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it – Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious)
  • Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team)
  • Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – worn by Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)

Stage Results & GC

Full results here: Stage 9

Tour de France 2022 Stage 14

Stage 14 Saint-Etienne›Mende (192.5km)

Mende, Saturday, July 16th  – Michael Matthews won again at the Tour de France five years after the last time. Second at Longwy and Lausanne, he became the second Australian to win a stage after Simon Clarke on stage 5 and the second rider from Team BikeExchange-Jayco to win a stage after Dylan Groenewegen on stage 3. The sprinter from Canberra rode as an attacker to finish solo after the Côte de la Croix-Neuve in Mende while Alberto Bettiol and Thibaut Pinot rounded out the podium.

16/07/2022 – Tour de France 2022 – Stage 14 – Saint-Etienne / Mende (192,5km) – Stage Winner Michael MATTHEWS (TEAM BIKEESCHANGE-JAYCO)
Photo: ASO/Pauline Ballet

Video: Stage Summary (courtesy ASO)

Stage 14 Profile

Route profile Stage 14

Stage 14 Results: Top 10. (Full result here)

Tour de France 2022 Stage 5

Chaos on the Cobbles

Young rider leader Pogacar shattered rivals plans with a well crafted ride on the cobbles of Northern France while veteran Australian Simon Clarke took a maiden Tour de France stage victory at age 35.

06/07/2022 – Tour de France 2022 – Stage 5 – Lille Métropole / Arenberg Porte du Hainaut (153,7km) – Stage winner CLARKE Simon (ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH)
Photo: A.S.O. / Charly Lopez

Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, Wednesday, July 6th  – Australia’s Simon Clarke claimed his maiden Tour de France stage victory as the early breakaway survived to the line. The Israel-Premier Tech veteran, aged 35, pipped Taco van der Hoorn on the line while Edvald Boasson Hagen rounded out the podium. Wout van Aert who crashed before the cobbled sector and waited for Jonas took third spot.

The yellow jersey battle took a new twist with a big re-jig at the top of the standings. While Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) who had punctured retained the yellow jersey by a margin of 13 seconds over breakaway member Neilson Powless a late attack by Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in the company of Jasper Stuyven (Trek – Segafredo) saw the UAE rider move into third and extend the gap to rivals such as Vingegaard.

How it happened

Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies), Magnus Cort and Neilson Powless (EF Education-Easypost), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) and Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM) entered the second cobbled sector with an advantage of 3’25”.

Clarke described what it meant to win his first Tour de France stage: “I mean, after winter I had, I had no team and Israel-Premier Tech rang me up. I was given that chance… Today is the reality check that everything can happen if you take the opportunity. The first few days of the Tour, I was looking after the team. But this morning, the team director said: ‘Clarkey, today is a breakaway day!’ The stages I won at La Vuelta and the pink jersey I had at the Giro all came in the first week of the race. So I thought today was maybe the day… But I still can’t believe it. I passed Taco less than 50 meters to go. I gave my bike the biggest throw I could. My stages at La Vuelta came in similar finishes. I chose to sit back and hope for the other guys to crack before. I really had to chase Edvald down. We’ve been sprinting since the last corner. I went as hard as I could until the line. I moved to Europe for racing when I was 16 and I’ll turn 36 on the second rest day of the Tour, so after 20 years, now the dream comes true. Hi to everyone in Australia and thanks for the support through all those years!”

06/07/2022 – Tour de France 2022 – Stage 5 – Lille Metropole / Arenberg Porte du Hainaut (153,7km) – Race leader Wout VAN AERT (JUMBO – VISMA)
Route profile with the 11 cobbled sectors

Stage 5 Results: Top 10. (Full result here)

BINIAM GIRMAY MAKES HISTORY AT JESI

Stage 10: Pescara to Jesi, 196km

BINIAM GIRMAY out sprinted Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix to become the first Eritrean to take a stage at a Giro. In a cruel twist of fate the 22 year old Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux rider was immediately sidelined after taking a cork in the eye from the celebratory Prosecco.

Foto Massimo Paolone/LaPresse 17 Maggio 2022 Pescara sport ciclismo Giro d’Italia 2022 – edizione 105 Tappa 10 Pescara – Jesi Nella foto: Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse May 17, 2022 Pescara sport Cycling Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition Stage 10 Pescara – Jesi In the pic:

Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay made the best of his duel with Mathieu van der Poel to become the first Eritrean stage winner at the Giro d’Italia, one and half months after he made history in the northern classics, winning Gent-Wevelgem. It was a very competitive stage, heading to Michele Scarponi’s native town of Jesi. Italy’s Vincenzo Albanese rounded off the podium and Juan Pedro Lopez retained the Maglia Rosa.

Biniam Girmay had to skip the post-podium press conference to go to hospital after an incident on stage, however straight after the finish he said: “I started the Giro with the desire to win a stage. Everyone from the team pulled for me today, even the GC riders, Domenico Pozzovivo was amazing at the end. At 600m to go, he said: ‘come’. He pushed me to go and win. I realize I’m making history but it’s thanks to my team and my family. I’m really grateful to them.”

Juan Pedro Lopez, who pulled on the maglia rosa for the eight straight day said in the press conference: “When we passed Filottrano, I started to cry. I didn’t get to know Michele Scarponi but I know his family and there were a lot of emotions. I was lucky enough to meet Biniam Girmay three or four years ago. We’ve maintained a good relationship since then. We also keep in touch via social media. He makes history today. Moreover, he’s a very humble and amicable person. As for myself, I enjoy every day and every kilometre in the Maglia Rosa. I don’t know for how much longer but tomorrow I’m sure I’ll enjoy again.”

Stage 10: Top 10 results.

Full results here

De Gendt Crowned King of Napoli

Napoli (Procida Capitale Italiana della Cultura), 14 May 2022. Thomas de Gendt invaded Naples today as part of a four man group to seal a second win at a Giro d’Italia. This one on the shores of the bay of Naples could not be much more different from the one he claimed ten years on Stage 20 of the 2012 edition at Passo dello Stelvio.

Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse  May 14, 2022 Naples  sport Cycling Giro d'Italia 2022 - 105th edition  Stage 8 Naples-Naples In the pic: Thomas De Gendt, Davide Gabburo, Jorge Arcas Peña
Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse May 14, 2022 Naples sport Cycling Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition Stage 8 Naples-Naples In the pic: Thomas De Gendt, Davide Gabburo, Jorge Arcas Peña

STAGE RESULTS
1 – Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) –  153 km in 3h32’53’’, average speed 43.122 km/h
2 – Davide Gabburo (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) s.t.
3 – Jorge Arcas Peña (Movistar Team) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Juan Pedro Lopez Perez (Trek-Segafredo)
2 – Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) at 38″
3 – Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) at 58”

The Lungomare Caracciolo in Napoli, with an impressive crowd on a summer-like day, welcomed the second success in the Corsa Rosa, 10 years after the first one, by Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal). The Belgian rider won the sprint between four of the 21 riders who were part of the breakaway that started at the beginning of the stage, pushed on by Mathieu van der Poel.

De Gendt, in the company of Davide Gabburo, Jorge Arcas Peña and his team-mate Harm Vanhoucke, anticipated the other fugitives by attacking 43km from the finish and resisting the return in the final of van der Poel himself, who tried in vain to take the lead in the company of Mauro Schmid and Biniam Girmay.

Photo Fabio Ferrari/ LaPresse May 14, 2022 Naples sport Cycling Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition Stage 8 Naples-Naples

Among the escapees, Guillaume Martin moved up on GC and now stands in fourth place 1’06” behind the Maglia Rosa Juan Pedro Lopez, who defended the lead despite numerous attacks launched in the final kilometres by Lennard Kämna.

The stage winner, Thomas De Gendt, said in the press conference: “I won races in previous years but I’ve felt it’s become harder and harder to be in the good breakaway. I only managed to do it for the third time this year. There are always good riders up there. Today, again, it was the case with Mathieu van der Poel and Biniam Grmay. We also knew that everyone would look at them; normally everyone looks at me. We took advantage of that. I’ve had bad luck and bad shape in the last two years. Today I proved that I’m still able to win races. It was a really nice circuit today – something like a championship but I can only talk about the Belgian championship because I’ve never won the Europeans or the Worlds. I think it’s nice to do it in a Grand Tour. It felt like a classic today. It made for an attractive racing, not exactly what people expected.”

Tomorrow sees the second uphill finish of this Giro d’Italia at the top of the Blockhaus.

Stage 8: Top Ten Results – full results here

Lopez into Pink as Kamna takes the honours on Mount Etna

10 May 2022: Stage 4 (172km) Etna-Nicolosi (Rif. Sapienza).

Europe’s largest volcano was the scene of a titanic duel between Lennard Kämna of BORA – hansgrohe and Juan Pedro López of Trek – Segafredo over the last few kilometres of a stage which saw a break hold off the peloton. It was Kamna who took the stage honours while Lopez, whose bike-handling failed him on the final turn, took enough time to become the new Maglia Rosa.

Kamna wins on Etna
Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse May 10, 2022 Etna – Nicolosi, Italy sport Cycling Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition – Stage 4 – From Avola to Etna – Nicolosi (Sapienza Shelter) In the pic: KAMNA Lennard (BORA – HANSGROHE) stage winner

How it happened:

Faced with the epic ascent of Mount Etna at the conclusion of the day’s stage the peloton took a relaxed approach when 14 men broke away early leaving themselves with over 160km to go. The 14 breakaway members comprised:

Valerio Conti (Astana Qazaqstan), Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe), Davide Villella, Rémy Rochas (Cofidis), Rein Taaramae (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), Gijs Leemreize (Jumbo-Visma), Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Soudal), Mauri Vansevenant (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo), Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Fenix), Diego Andrés Camargo (EF Education-EasyPost), Erik Fetter (Eolo-Kometa), Alexander Cataford (Israel-PremierTech) and Lilian Calmejane (AG2R Citroën).

The break took advantage of the peloton’s apathy and pulled out a 8’10” gap.

With 30km to go, and still enjoying a 6′ gap, the unity of the break ended with Oldani making a bold bid for glory. It looked solid too. With 12km to go he had a lead of 1’03”. Then Lopez attacked.

The Spanish rider caught and passed Oldani within 2km and things began to look exciting not just at a Stage level on for the GC.

With 8km t0 go Kämna made an appearance at the front of a small group with Vansevenant and Moniquet that represented the last of the break. His pace was too high though and at 6.5km to go he was riding solo in pursuit of Lopez. the peloton was now clawing back time and was 4’20” adrift.

There was another shift in positions behind with Taaramae accelerating to become third man on the road. With 2.5km to go Kämna had caught Lopez and the two were spotted in conversation. Whether it was something to do with how they intended to divide up the spoils it seemed to not have been resolved as the two were in a desperate duel coming into the final bend at 200m with Lopez on Kämna‘s wheel.

Photo Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse May 10, 2022 Avola, Italy sport Cycling Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition – Stage 4 – From Avola to Etna/Nicolosi (Sapienza Shelter) In the pic: KÄMNA Lennard (BORA – HANSGROHE), winner of race.LOPEZ PEREZ Juan Pedro (TREK – SEGAFREDO)

All became moot for the Stage win as Lopez made a mess of the turn and immediately lost 5 meters on the German who came across the line to take a first Giro stage win, and the sixth win of his career.

Lopez was visibly annoyed at the outcome and even in the interviews had to be reminded he was the new Maglia Rosa. He had started the day in 47th spot at 1’12” but with the peloton still adrift and arriving 2’37” later he now had 39″ over Kämna but 1’42” over Simon Yates and 2’06” back to Richard Carapaz and Romain Bardet.

Photo Massimo Paolone/LaPresse May 10, 2022 Avola, Italy sport Cycling Giro d’Italia 2022 – 105th edition – Stage 4 – From Avola to Etna/Nicolosi (Sapienza Shelter) In the pic: Juan Pedro Lopez

Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo): “I worked hard all day to take the Maglia Rosa. I attacked in the toughest part of the climb but Kämna was able to come back at -3. I tried to fight for the victory but it was really difficult to win. I’m really happy to have the Maglia Rosa, I don’t know how long I’ll keep it but I’ll enjoy it“.

Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe): “It was a very hard day, especially the final climb. I thought it was over when Lopez was marked at 30″. When I caught him it was probably a tacit deal, stage to me and Maglia Rosa to him. I’m happy to have won a stage, it takes a lot of pressure off the team too“.

Top Ten Results