Breakaway victory on stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia 2023. After 175 kilometres between Venosa and Lago Laceno, there was a two-man sprint between Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) and Aurelien Paret-Peintre (AG2R-Citroën Team), which the Frenchman won. It was enough for Leknessund to take the pink jersey from Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step).
Before the 4th stage, Leknessund was 1:40 minutes behind the Belgian, who had to compete with all the contenders in the classification - including Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) - crossed the finish line 2:01 minutes behind and is now 28 seconds behind the Norwegian from Team DSM in second place overall.
The top 10 of stage 4
- Aurelien Paret-Peintre (AG2R-Citroën Team) 4:16:04
- Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) +0:02
- Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) +0:57
- Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa) +0:57
- Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +1:02
- Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo) +1:07
- Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma) +2:01
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +2:01
- Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco-AlUla) +2:01
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +2:01
The overall standings
- Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) 14:35:44
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:28
- Aurelien Paret-Peintre (AG2R-Citroën Team) +0:30
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +1:00
- Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +1:12
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +1:26
- Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:26
- Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) +1:29
- Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) +1:30
- Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) +1:36
Paret-Peintre and Leknessund were part of a leading group of seven riders. On the final climb, the Colle Molella, the summit of which was reached three kilometres before the finish, Leknessund and Paret-Peintre pulled away from their rivals and decided the victory between themselves.
"My main goal this year is the Giro. We knew that today would be a day for the breakaway. It was very hard to get into the front group. I knew I was faster than Leknessund in the sprint. He has the pink jersey and I have the stage win. So everyone is happy," said stage winner Paret-Peintre at the finish.
How the 4th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2023 went
It was an extremely hectic race right from the start. Many riders wanted to get into the leading group, as the chances of a breakaway victory were high. The group of the day finally formed on the descent from the Passo delle Crocelle.
Seven riders broke away from the peloton: Aurelien Paret-Peintre (AG2R-Citroën Team), Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa), Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM), Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Toms Skujins (both Trek-Segafredo). Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) was still fighting for a long time to catch up. However, the Frenchman had no chance against the well harmonised leading group and was caught by the peloton.
The day's victory was decided on the Colle Molella. Leknessund and Paret-Peintre proved to be the strongest riders in the breakaway and rode together to the finishing straight. Paret-Peintre sprinted away from Leknessund's rear wheel around 150 metres before the finish and gave the Norwegian no chance.
Evenepoel isolated in the group of favourites
There were no significant attacks in the group of favourites around Evenepoel on the final climb of the day. However, the Belgian had to make do without his team-mates in the meantime, who lost touch, while Ineos Grenadiers, for example, was still represented by five riders.
Although the British team pushed the pace at times, they were unable to put any of the other favourites in trouble. 25 riders in the group around Evenepoel reached the finish of stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia 2023 around two minutes behind Paret-Peintre - including the two Bora-Hansgrohe pros Lennard Kämna and Aleksandr Vlasov.
