Saint-Flour
181.5 km
Tuesday 9 September
Fourth stage. Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise – Saint-Flour (181,5 kilometres). Start at 11h50 for the 103 remaining riders. Non-starter: Bonnafond (FRB). Van der Velde wins the stage after being part of a breakaway that took off at kilometre 5. Stetina takes command of the overall and takes a serious option on final victory.
The bunch starts the first kilometres at a very high pace. At kilometre 5, Benta (POR), Trotta (ITA), Ostergaard (DEN), Voss (GER), Van der Velde (NED), Schultz (EST), Eggli (SUI), Bessy and Cusin (FRB) break away. At kilometre 19, Lodewijck (BEL), Stetina (USA) and Busato (ITA) joint them, with a 55’ advantage on the bunch. But the gap decreases and the leaders have to speed up to stay clear from the pack. Therefore the break away bursts out and only 5 riders remain in the lead (Busato, Lodewijck, Van der Velde, Stetina and Bessy).
At the top of the Col de Pichillon (km 49,5), Stetina comes first ahead of Van der Velde, Bessy, Lodewijck, Busatto. Thire (FRB) leads the main pack 6’30 adrift. At kilometre 55 (Côte d’Estivareilles), Van der Velde, Stetina, Bessy and the leading group take their advantage up to 7’. The gap increases up to 8’ at the top of the côte de Malaveille (km 70) (result of the climb: Van der Velde, Stetina, Bessy et Lodewijck)
The leading group insists. On the line of the first sprint of the day in Craponne-sur-Arzon (km 74), Stetina is faster than Busato and Van der Velde, 8’20 ahead of the main pack. At the top of the côte de Fontannes (km 83), the gap rises up to 10’25 (maximum gap), when Van der Velde, Stetina and Bessy pass in that order by the climb line. But, right after the Côte de Varennes-Saint-Honorat (km 105), the gap starts decreasing. The break away led by Van der Velde, Stetina and Bessy can only maintain a 7’30 advantage as they pass by the bonus-sprint in Langeac (km 105). Then the gap stabilises around 7’30.
In the climb of the Col de Lestival (km 139), Stetina speeds up and breaks away on his own. At the top he has a 1’05 advantage on the chasing riders led by Van der Velde, Lodewijck, Bessy, Busato. Bakelants, who leads the bunch remains 7’15 adrift. But as they enter Pinols (km 144,5), the chasers catch up with Stetina, 7’ ahead of the bunch.
Then the chase gets tougher. At kilometre 150, the gap drops down to 5’55. But Stetina and his four break away companions refuse to give up. They keep a 4’50 advantage on the main pack as they pass by the 10 kilometre flag. Under the red flag, Van der Velde, Bessy, Busato and Stetina intensify their efforts with a view to ride for the stage victory. Lodewijck fails to follow then. With 300 metres to go Van der Velde takes off, followed by Busato. The Dutchman insists and wins ahead of Busato. Bessy comes third, Stetina fourth. The American rider takes command of the overall.
“I had planned to attack on this stage. I liked the course and had good legs. I felt so good that I even wanted to take off alone with 40 kilometres to go (in the Col de Lestival). But once alone, there was too much wind and I understood that it would be stupid to carry bon.So I waited for the others and the five of us continued to the finish by working to keep as much of an advantage as possible to the line. It paid off. I have the jersey and a decent lead. I will try to make it all the way to the finish…”