By Stefan Tabeling, dpa
In the middle of the lava fields on Mount Etna, Lennard Kämna spread his arms, then patted his chest and pointed his finger to the sky. The German cycling hopeful made an impressive comeback on the volcano and celebrated his first stage win in the Giro d'Italia.
After 172 kilometres, the 25-year-old took victory on the 1892 metre high mountain finish ahead of the Spanish breakaway rider Juan Pedro Lopez, who was left with the pink jersey of the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel as a consolation prize.
"I'm very happy that it worked out with the stage win. The early victory takes the pressure off us. Things are going in the right direction for us," said Kämna, who is also in second place in the overall standings behind Lopez with a gap of 39 seconds. But the pink jersey was not the goal on the fourth stage. "It was a super tough day. When Lopez pulled away, I already thought that I wouldn't be able to win the stage."
"The feeling gets better and better"
It was Kämna's second stage win in a grand tour after he triumphed at the Tour de France in Villard-de-Lans in 2020. "I'm the same rider as in 2020 with the same skills. The feeling gets better and better from race to race," said Kämna.
Just a year ago, the former junior world champion had taken time out due to mental problems, and it was only after almost nine months that he returned in February. Since then, he has already celebrated three one-day victories, which demonstrates his great potential.
The highly talented North German had broken away from the field early on with 13 other escapees and pulled out a big lead. On Mount Etna it was then an elimination race in which Kämna showed his mountain qualities. The group of top favourites reached the finish 2:37 minutes behind Kämna, and podium contender Emanuel Buchmann also had no problems keeping up the pace. He moved up to 21st place overall.
Tactically outstanding on the mountain
But the man of the day was Kämna. The rider from Team Bora-hansgrohe has already achieved his Giro goal with the stage win. Kämna had already impressed in the opening stage in Hungary with a sharp but hapless attack on the first stage and an eighth place in the individual time trial on the second day.
Kämna was tactically outstanding on the mountain. He held back in the breakaway group until around six kilometres before the finish, when he ignited the turbo. He easily caught up with Lopez, who had previously been behind. The duo rode together towards the finish. Lopez was no match for the German and was content with the overall lead.
There were a few crashes on the way to Mount Etna after the start in Avola. One of these involved a motorbike falling, which dragged Roger Kluge and others down with it. However, the former track cycling world champion was able to continue his ride. Co-favourite Simon Yates also crashed, but was able to continue after receiving treatment from the Giro doctor.
The Tour of Italy continues on Wednesday with the fifth stage over 174 kilometres from Catania to Messina, the home town of cycling star Vincenzo Nibali.
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