Lennart Jasch claimed victory in a chaotic stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps, outsprinting a depleted peloton after a long solo effort from a five-rider breakaway that had opened a three-and-a-half-minute lead.
The Tudor Pro Cycling Team rider survived attacks from the peloton’s favorites in the final kilometers, including a late surge from Egan Bernal, to win in Trento as Matteo Sobrero and Federico Iacomoni rounded out the stage podium. Jasch’s win came amid constant shifting at the front, where breakaway companions Sean Quinn, Rainer Kepplinger, Christopher Juul-Jensen and Simone Raccani were gradually absorbed before he went clear alone.
Egan Bernal, defending his third place in the general classification, launched multiple attacks in the closing stages, including a decisive move at 5 kilometers to go, but was repeatedly countered by Giulio Pellizzari and Aleksandr Vlasov, who worked to neutralize his efforts and preserve the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe leader’s position. Bernal ultimately finished tenth on the stage, losing no time to Pellizzari in the overall standings.
The stage, covering 167.8 kilometers with 3,600 meters of climbing between Arco and Trento, featured two first-category ascents and was described by El Tiempo as the race’s queen stage. Early difficulties struck the overall leader, as Pellizzari struggled on the Passo Bordala climb shortly after the start, while Colombian rider Martín Santiago Herreño abandoned the race in the opening kilometers.
Despite the pressure, the general classification remained tightly contested after stage 4, with Pellizzari retaining the lead at 15 hours, 41 minutes and 32 seconds, just four seconds ahead of Thymen Arensman and Egan Bernal, who sits third at four seconds back. Aleksandr Vlasov follows in fourth at six seconds, highlighting the extraordinary compression at the front of the race.
The day’s events underscored the volatility of the Tour of the Alps, where a breakaway victory and relentless attacks from the favorites left the overall outcome hanging on a handful of seconds as the race prepared for its final stage.
How the breakaway evolved and why it succeeded
The five-rider escape formed early, with Lennart Jasch, Rainer Kepplinger, Sean Quinn, Christopher Juul-Jensen and Simone Raccani pulling clear as the peloton allowed a gap to stretch to three minutes and thirty seconds. Jasch was the first to attack within the break, dropping his companions and pushing solo toward Trento.
Behind, the favorites remained passive initially, but Juan Felipe Rodríguez ignited a chain-reaction at 21 kilometers to go, prompting Tom Pidcock, Giulio Pellizzari and Egan Bernal to accelerate and begin closing the deficit. As the fray intensified, Quinn was caught, then Kepplinger, Juul-Jensen and Raccani fell back, leaving Jasch alone to face the charging peloton.
Why Egan Bernal’s attacks didn’t yield a stage win
Bernal launched his most significant effort at five kilometers remaining, attempting to bridge to Jasch and go for the stage victory, but was immediately marked by Pellizzari, who rolled onto his wheel to prevent any solo advantage. Aleksandr Vlasov later added to the chase, ensuring Bernal could not gain meaningful ground.
Despite showing strength in the mountains and repeatedly responding to surges, Bernal found himself boxed in by the coordinated perform of two Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe riders committed to protecting their leader’s slim general classification lead, ultimately settling for tenth place on the stage.
What the stage results mean for the final day
With the general classification separated by mere seconds — Pellizzari at 15:41:32, Arensman at +4 seconds, Bernal at +4 seconds and Vlasov at +6 seconds — the fifth and final stage will likely be decided in the closing kilometers, where time bonuses and positioning could shift the overall standings.
The extraordinary closeness means that even a minor miscalculation or ill-timed mechanical issue could cost a rider the title, setting up a finale where every second gained or lost in the sprint or on the final climbs will be magnified.
Who won stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps?
Lennart Jasch of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team won stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps, defeating Matteo Sobrero and Federico Iacomoni in the final sprint in Trento.
How did Egan Bernal perform in stage 4?
Egan Bernal attacked repeatedly in the final kilometers of stage 4, including a move at 5 kilometers to go, but was marked by Giulio Pellizzari and Aleksandr Vlasov and finished tenth on the stage while retaining third place in the general classification.
What is the current general classification standings after stage 4?
Giulio Pellizzari leads the Tour of the Alps in 15 hours, 41 minutes and 32 seconds, followed by Thymen Arensman at +4 seconds, Egan Bernal at +4 seconds and Aleksandr Vlasov at +6 seconds.