Meintjes wins finale stage 4 and overall title at Coppi e Bartali

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Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka) won the finale stage 4 and the overall title at the 2015 Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali on Sunday. The young rider won the final stage ahead of Damiano Cunego (Nippo-Vini Fantini) and Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) in Roccapelago.

The victory bumped him up into the overall win ahead of the previous day's race leader and stage 2 winner Ben Swift (Team Sky). 

"This win really means a lot to me," Meintjes said. "It's my first win in Europe and I have to thank the whole team who supported me at this race. They were always there and it makes me really proud. I hope this win also motivates people to help us and Qhubeka putting more kids on bikes in Africa."

An initial move that included Primoz Roglic (Adria Mobil) and Sam Spokes (Drapac) formed and the pair gained 3:30 minutes on the field. It was the Bardiani-CSF team that put on the race from the peloton behind. With 40km to go, the break was almost reeled back in, and there were only 15 riders left in the front group.

Meintjes attacked on the final climb of the day and caught the pair of breakaway riders, one at a time. He was alone at the front of the race with 20km the finish line and was able to hold a steady gap of over a minute to take the stage win and the overall victory. 

"The team did really well today," said team director Alex Sans Vega. "We were going for the stage win, but to also take the overall is brilliant. Our plan was to attack with 40 kilometers to go. And Louis was just phenomenal. He attacked on the steepest climb of the day and then just rode off. It was just a perfect day for us."

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