Tour de Suisse: Richeze wins stage 4 in Champagne

With the final corner coming just over 100 metres from the finish line in Champagne, received wisdom said that the first man through that point would claim the honours on stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse.

Etixx-QuickStep left nothing to chance. Max Richeze led his teammate Fernando Gaviria into that sharp right-hand bend, and that was where they stayed all the way to the line, claiming a fine one-two for the Belgian squad, with world champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) claiming third to retain the overall lead.

Richeze joined Etixx-QuickStep this season to serve as a lead-out man and mentor to Gaviria, and the South American pairing formed a seamless partnership here. Having already advised Richeze to try his own luck on the previous two days, Gaviria made no effort to come around his teammate once the win was assured here, and Richeze became the first Argentinian to win a stage at the Tour de Suisse.

Sagan – in the yellow jersey of race leader rather than his usual rainbow bands – was third into the last corner and though he ate up much of his deficit in the final metres, he left himself with too much to do and had to settle for third. His hopes of a third successive victory dashed, Sagan can console himself with another day in the overall lead.

On watching the television images afterwards, Sagan might consider himself fortunate, too, that he wasn’t brought down by Sky’s Danny van Poppel, who almost clipped the world champion when he attempted to move ahead of him on the final bend. Van Poppel was forced to sit up but mercifully avoided coming a cropper.

The incident ultimately had no impact on the top three positions on the stage, but it did allow for a two-second gap to open up to fourth place finisher Tom Van Asbroeck (LottoNL-Jumbo), who came home ahead of Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).

The combination of the time gap and the four-second bonus for third place means that Sagan extended his lead over Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal) and Silvan Dillier (BMC) to nine seconds, while Richeze moves up to fourth, a further eight seconds back.

The stage, a 193-kilometre hike from Rheinfelden, was the final opportunity for the fast men at this race before the high mountains rear into the view in the latter part of the week, and there was little chance that the sprinters’ teams would allow the chance to pass them by.

Early move

Matt Brammeier (Dimension Data), Nick van der Lijke (Roompot - Oranje Peloton), Jérémy Maison (FDJ) and Lukas Jaun (Team Roth) slipped clear in the opening kilometres of racing and quickly established a lead, but their gap was never allowed to linger far north of four minutes, with first Tinkoff and then Etixx-QuickStep putting their shoulders to the wheel to keep tabs on the move.

With 40 kilometres remaining, the gap was down to two minutes, and although the quartet put up fierce resistance in the final hour – Brammeier was particularly generous with his efforts – there was an air of inevitability about their fate.

There was a palpable injection of urgency to the efforts when Jaun was distanced with 22 kilometres remaining, but that coincided with a firmer marshalling of the troops in the main peloton, as Orica-GreenEdge and LottoNL-Jumbo also began to contribute to the chase.

The gap had dropped inside a minute with 12 kilometres to go as the three leaders tacked the final climb of the day, but the sight of riders being shelled out the back of the peloton – Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) among them – was indicative of the rising intensity in the main field.

The neo-professional Maison attempted to slip away alone with five kilometres remaining, but he and his companions were swept up by the main peloton with a shade under four kilometres to go.

That more or less coincided with Etixx-QuickStep’s lead-out train stepping up to the mark and stamping their authority on proceedings. The Czech duo of Zdenek Stybar and Petr Vakoc swapped mammoth turns on the head of the peloton, while Richeze and Gaviria sat snugly behind.

Sagan, for his part, was wisely tucked in on Gaviria’s wheel, but though he chose the right train, the Slovakian perhaps erred in opting to remain in situ all the way to the final bend instead of seeking to move up when the opportunity arose with 300 metres to go.

Easier said than done, perhaps, particularly given how keenly Van Poppel and Stuyven were competing for Gaviria’s rear wheel in the final kilometre. By that point, Richeze had taken up the reins, ostensibly to lead out Gaviria, but when he reached the final 100 metres in front, he kept on going to claim the win.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx - Quick-Step5:08:21
2Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:00:02
5Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 4 - Cell 2
6Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 6 - Cell 2
8Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Team RothRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 8 - Cell 2
10Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 9 - Cell 2
11Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJRow 10 - Cell 2
12Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension DataRow 11 - Cell 2
13Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 12 - Cell 2
14Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 13 - Cell 2
15Rui Costa (Por) Lampre - MeridaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Gorka Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Matti Breschel (Den) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 16 - Cell 2
18Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jon Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 19 - Cell 2
21Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 22 - Cell 2
24Michal Golas (Pol) Team SkyRow 23 - Cell 2
25Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team SkyRow 25 - Cell 2
27Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jordi Simon (Spa) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 28 - Cell 2
30Bram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 29 - Cell 2
31Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Víctor De La Parte (Spa) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 31 - Cell 2
33Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 33 - Cell 2
35Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 34 - Cell 2
36Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 35 - Cell 2
37Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 38 - Cell 2
40Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 40 - Cell 2
42Kamil Gradek (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM CyclingRow 43 - Cell 2
45Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 44 - Cell 2
46Natnael Berhane (Eri) Dimension DataRow 45 - Cell 2
47Pierre-Roger Latour (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Team KatushaRow 47 - Cell 2
49Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 48 - Cell 2
50Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 49 - Cell 2
51Felix Grosschartner (Aut) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 50 - Cell 2
52Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team KatushaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Karel Hnik (Cze) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 53 - Cell 2
55Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 54 - Cell 2
56Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJRow 55 - Cell 2
57Simon Spilak (Slo) Team KatushaRow 56 - Cell 2
58Pawel Cieslik (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 58 - Cell 2
60Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Team KatushaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre - MeridaRow 60 - Cell 2
62Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 61 - Cell 2
63Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team SkyRow 62 - Cell 2
64Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Christian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 64 - Cell 2
66Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 65 - Cell 2
67Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Lampre - MeridaRow 66 - Cell 2
68Lars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJRow 68 - Cell 2
70Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 69 - Cell 2
71Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge0:00:20
72Michel Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton0:00:23
73Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Jay McCarthy (Aus) Tinkoff TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo0:00:26
76Sam Bewley (NZl) Orica-GreenEdge0:00:28
77Toms Skujins (Lat) Cannondale Pro Cycling0:00:31
78Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
80Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 79 - Cell 2
81Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJRow 81 - Cell 2
83Tiago Machado (Por) Team KatushaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) FDJRow 83 - Cell 2
85Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJRow 85 - Cell 2
87Sindre Skjoestad Lunke (Nor) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 86 - Cell 2
88Matthias Krizek (Aut) Team RothRow 87 - Cell 2
89Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 90 - Cell 2
92Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Dimension DataRow 91 - Cell 2
93Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre - MeridaRow 92 - Cell 2
94Tyler Farrar (USA) Dimension DataRow 93 - Cell 2
95Oliver Zaugg (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 94 - Cell 2
96Jonas Koch (Ger) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Jan Hirt (Cze) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 96 - Cell 2
98Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 97 - Cell 2
99Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-SegafredoRow 98 - Cell 2
100Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 99 - Cell 2
101Adam Stachowiak (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Huub Duijn (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 101 - Cell 2
103Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 103 - Cell 2
105Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 104 - Cell 2
106Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek-SegafredoRow 105 - Cell 2
107Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) FDJRow 106 - Cell 2
108Colin Stüssi (Swi) Team RothRow 107 - Cell 2
109Martin Kohler (Swi) Team RothRow 108 - Cell 2
110Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 110 - Cell 2
112Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 111 - Cell 2
113Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 112 - Cell 2
114Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 113 - Cell 2
115Matthias Brandle (Aut) IAM CyclingRow 114 - Cell 2
116Matvey Mamykin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 115 - Cell 2
117Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jiri Polnicky (Cze) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
119Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 118 - Cell 2
120Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 119 - Cell 2
121Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - MeridaRow 120 - Cell 2
122Pieter Weening (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 121 - Cell 2
123Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) Dimension DataRow 122 - Cell 2
124Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale Pro CyclingRow 123 - Cell 2
125Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 124 - Cell 2
126Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek-Segafredo0:01:44
127Amets Txurruka (Spa) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 126 - Cell 2
128Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek-SegafredoRow 127 - Cell 2
129Jesse Sergent (NZl) AG2R La MondialeRow 128 - Cell 2
130Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 129 - Cell 2
131Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data0:01:46
132Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 131 - Cell 2
133Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Dimension DataRow 132 - Cell 2
134Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 133 - Cell 2
135Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Roompot - Oranje PelotonRow 134 - Cell 2
136Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 135 - Cell 2
137Ian Boswell (USA) Team SkyRow 136 - Cell 2
138Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team SkyRow 137 - Cell 2
139Jorge Arcas Pena (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 138 - Cell 2
140Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 139 - Cell 2
141Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff TeamRow 140 - Cell 2
142Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 141 - Cell 2
143Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step0:01:55
144Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 143 - Cell 2
145Jérémy Maison (Fra) FDJ0:02:03
146Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge0:02:41
147Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 146 - Cell 2
148Mario Costa (Por) Lampre - Merida0:03:22
149Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Astana Pro TeamRow 148 - Cell 2
150Davide Malacarne (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:03:25
151Marcel Wyss (Swi) IAM Cycling0:03:36
152Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton0:03:49
153Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 152 - Cell 2
154Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek-SegafredoRow 153 - Cell 2
155Iljo Keisse (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 154 - Cell 2
156Michal Podlaski (Pol) Verva ActiveJet Pro Cycling TeamRow 155 - Cell 2
157Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 156 - Cell 2
158Nico Brüngger (Swi) Team RothRow 157 - Cell 2
159Bruno Pires (Por) Team RothRow 158 - Cell 2
160Valentin Baillifard (Swi) Team RothRow 159 - Cell 2
161Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - MeridaRow 160 - Cell 2
162Leopold Konig (Cze) Team SkyRow 161 - Cell 2
163Cheng Ji (Chn) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 162 - Cell 2
164Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:06:27
165Lukas Jaun (Swi) Team RothRow 164 - Cell 2
166Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 165 - Cell 2
167Rodrigo Contreras (Col) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 166 - Cell 2
168Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff TeamRow 167 - Cell 2
169Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar TeamRow 168 - Cell 2
170Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff TeamRow 169 - Cell 2
DNSSamuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 170 - Cell 2
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Sprint 1 - Avenue de Mordagne - 157.5 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Lukas Jaun (Swi) Team Roth6pts
2Jérémy Maison (Fra) FDJ3Row 1 - Cell 3
3Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Route de Lausanne - 169.4 km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data6pts
2Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton3Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jérémy Maison (Fra) FDJ1Row 2 - Cell 3
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