Tour of the Alps stage 4 – Live coverage

Stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps brings the peloton from Naturns to Pieve di Bono by way of the climbs of the Passo Castrin, Passo Campo Carlo Magno and Boniprati. The longest stage of the race also brings it to its highest point atop the Castrin and features more climbing than any other day this week. Roll out is at 10.50 CET.

Simon Yates (BikeExchange) remains in the leader's green jersey after his commanding victory at Feichten im Kaunertal on Tuesday. He holds a 45-second advantage over Pavel Sivakov (Ineos), while Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) and Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana) are all just over a minute down.

General classification after stage 3

1          Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange        10:52:10

2          Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Ineos Grenadiers            0:00:45

3          Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious     0:01:04

4          Daniel Martin (Irl) Israel Start-up Nation       

5          Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana-Premier Tech            0:01:08

6          Jefferson Cepeda (Ecu) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec

7          Jai Hindley (Aus) Team DSM            0:01:27

8          Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education-Nippo      

9          Ruben Guerreiro (Por) EF Education-Nippo  0:01:52

10        Nicholas Schultz (Aus) Team BikeExchange 

11        Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM       

12        Nairo Quintana (Col) Team Arkea-Samsic     

13        Ivan Ramiro Sosa Cuervo (Col) Ineos Grenadiers     

14        Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team           0:02:09

15        Gianni Moscon (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers            0:02:12

16        Antonio Nibali (Ita) Trek-Segafredo   0:02:13

17        Daniel Martinez Poveda (Col) Ineos Grenadiers         0:02:18

18        Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe  0:02:26

19        Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Astana-Premier Tech          0:02:33

20        Matteo Fabbro (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe

-168km

The peloton has completed the neutralised zone and stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps is officially underway. 

Almost immediately, a break forges clear, with Larry Warbasse (AG2R-Citroen), Luca Covili (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), Omer Goldstein (Israel Start-Up Nation), Marton Dina (Eolo-Kometa) and Romain Hardy (Arkéa-Samsic) opening a lead over the peloton.

Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) is also in the move and a couple of more riders try to get across on the short climb out of Naturns.

The leading group expands to eight riders, though their advantage is still a slender one for now: Larry Warbasse (AG2R-Citroën), Luca Covili (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), Omer Goldstein (Israel Start-Up Nation), Marton Dina (Eolo-Kometa), Romain Hardy (Arkéa-Samsic), Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Natnael Tesfazion (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec).

-158km

Domen Novak (Bahrain Victorious) and Pavel Kochetkov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) made a determined attempt to bridge across but they have since relented. Warbasse et al, meanwhile, have a lead of 48 seconds.

Groupama-FDJ are setting the tempo in the peloton in pursuit of the escapees. Thibaut Pinot is more than 13 minutes down after struggling on stage 2. The Frenchman is still suffering with a lingering back injury and his Giro d'Italia participation is very uncertain as a result. The remainder of this race - and today's stage in particular - will be telling in his final decision.

-149km

Bahrain-Victorious are helping Groupama-FDJ to pace the peloton and their combined efforts mean that the break's advantage continues to hover around the 50-second mark.

-141km

Break:

Larry Warbasse (AG2R-Citroën), Luca Covili (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), Omer Goldstein (Israel Start-Up Nation), Marton Dina (Eolo-Kometa), Romain Hardy (Arkéa-Samsic), Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Natnael Tesfazion (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec)

Peloton at 0:32

It's been a rapid start to proceedings but now the race is tackling the lower slopes of the Passo Castrin. Gazprom-RusVelo are now leading the peloton and the break's lead has dropped further, to 21 seconds.

-139km

Warbasse and the escapees have been caught by the peloton on the Castrin. They were never given much leeway by their pursuers, but we can expect another flurry of attacks as the climb draws on.

Three members of the first break try their luck again. Márton Dina (Eolo-Kometa), Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Natnael Tesfazion (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) are off the front in the company of Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën) and Nikolay Cherkasov (Gazprom-Rusvelo). Ben Zwiehoff (Bora-Hansgrohe) is also trying to get across.

-136km

Nothing to be done. The speed remains high and the would-be escapees are brought to heel.

After the initial kick upwards at the base of the Passo Castrin, the road flattens out for several kilometres around Sankt Pankraz, and riders who were distanced from the peloton on the lower slopes are fighting their way back on. It's a temporary respite, however, as the road soon rears up again for another 15km or so.

As the gradient stiffens, Larry Warbasse (AG2R-Citroën) attacks once again and this time he has another rider from Israel Start-Up Nation for company as one Chris Froome goes with him.

Simone Ravanelli (Androni-Sidermec) and the irrepressible Márton Dina (Eolo-Kometa) also bridge across. This quartet holds a slender lead over the peloton.

-129km

Situation:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Larry Warbasse (AG2R-Citroën), Simone Ravanelli (Androni-Sidermec) and Márton Dina (Eolo-Kometa)

Peloton at 0:12

Froome, Warbasse, Dina and Ravanelli don't last long as a quartet. Another spate of attacks in the peloton sees this front group expand to a dozen or so riders, but it's all still very fragmented. 

Nicolas Roche (DSM) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech) are among the riders who have joined this front group of 15 or so riders, but the situation is very fluid on the Passo Castrin.

Seven riders are now left in front, but with a narrow lead over the green jersey group: Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën) and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo)

For the first time, however, there seems to be a semblance of order descending over the peloton on the upper slopes of the Castrin, and the Froome group is taking advantage of that détente to stretch out their lead.

Two more riders made it across just before the drawbridge went up: Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and – who else – Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa). This group of nine has a lead of more than a minute over the peloton and their advantage is still rising.

-125km

Break:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa).

Peloton at 2:40

-124km

The escapees are still around 5km from the top of the Passo Castrin - which, remarkably, is not counted as a classified climb - and Grossschartner is the virtual overall leader. The Austrian, second to Gianni Moscon yesterday, began the day 2:26 down on Simon Yates.

The break's lead drops to just north of two minutes as Team BikeExchange take up the reins in the peloton. There are a number of other dangermen besides Grossschartner in this move as Sanchez, Pernsteiner and Ghebreigzabhier all began the day less than three minutes down on Simon Yates.

-118km

At the top of the Passo Castrin, the nine leaders have an advantage of 2:04 over the green jersey group. A long drop towards Bozzana follows, then a false flat towards the intermediate sprint at Dimaro before the climb of the Passo Campo Carlo Magno.

The Campo Carlo Magno, incidentally, is the other side of Madonna di Campiglio, and the Giro gruppo descended that way early in the stage to Laghi di Cancano last October. Confusingly, the first climb of that stage was the Madonna di Campiglio but it was branded as the Campo Carlo Magno as the race continued through the ski station (where Ben O'Connor had won the previous day) and climbed on to the summit. 

-112km

Break:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa).

Peloton at 2:04

-102km

BikeExchange continued to set the pace in the green jersey group on the way down the Castrin and their efforts have seen the break's lead drop to 1:35.

It's been some time since Chris Froome was at the head of a bike race in a break like this. The Briton is the worst-placed of the nine escapees on GC, having begun the day some 27 minutes down on Simon Yates.

-99km

As the road flattens out after the descent, the nine leaders begin to increase their advantage a little once again. 2:05 the gap as they enter the final 100km.

Into the Val di Sole for the nine leaders, who retain a lead of more than 2 minutes as they pedal towards Malé.

-80km

Luis Leon Sanchez leads the break through the intermediate sprint in Dimaro, where their advantage over the peloton stands at 1:50. They now face immediately into the category 1 Passo Campo Carlo Magno (14.4km at 6.6%), whose steepest ramps come in the opening kilometres. After the midway point, the gradient eases somewhat though the road drags inexorably upwards to an altitude just shy of 1700m.

-78km

Simon Yates' BikeExchange teammates lead the peloton on the lower ramps of the Campo Carlo Magno, and their efforts have shorn the break's lead to 1:38.

The Campo Carlo Magno is named for Charlemagne, who per local lore passed this way en route to his coronation in Rome in 800AD. It appears the name was only adopted early in the 20th century, mind, at the instigation of a hotelier in the area.

-76km

Froome, Grossschartner, Roche, Pernsteiner et al continue to find common cause on the Campo Carlo Magno and their advantage is back out to 1:55.

Nicolas Roche, incidentally, has been named in DSM's squad for the Giro d'Italia, where he will flank Romain Bardet and Jai Hindley in the 24th Grand Tour of his career, an Irish record. The second man in the standings, incidentally, is Roche's godfather Sean Kelly, with 21 Grand Tour appearances.  

-72km

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa) have come through the steepest section of the Passo Carlo Magno still together and with a lead of 1:40 over the peloton, where Yates' BikeExchange team continue to set the tempo.

The Campo Carlo Magno is the toughest climb on the agenda today but it's perhaps a touch too far from the finish to encourage much adventure among the favourites, particularly given the long trek through the valley that follows.

-68km

Break:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa)

Peloton at 1:40

-65km

Márlon Dina leads Chris Froome and the rest of the break over the top of the Passo Campo Carlo Magno with a lead of 1:50 over the peloton, where BikeExchange continue to dictate the terms.

The sense of urgency rises suddenly in the peloton on the descent of the Campo Carlo Magno and the break's lead drops to inside a minute.

-50km

Break:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa)

Peloton at 0:50

-46km

Australian champion Cameron Meyer sets the pace in the peloton, which is headed by a delegation from Team BikeExchange. The break's lead has inched back out to 1:24.

Simon Yates still has all six of his BikeExchange teammates for company at the head of this peloton, while Sivakov sits amid a phalanx of Ineos riders just behind them.

-38km

Break:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa)

Peloton at 1:20

The peloton is currently bowling along the valley some 1:16 down on the break, but the road rises again shortly for the short, unclassified climb towards Sella Giudicarie, which shouldn't cause undue problems. The category 2 climb to Boniprati follows with 17km to go. The ascent is 10km long with an average gradient of 6.8%. The toughest section comes 3km or so from the top and provides an obvious springboard for attackers. The summit comes 6.9km from the finish and it's followed by a rapid drop to the line in Pieve di Bono.

-34km

Luis Leon Sanchez leads the break onto the Sella Giudicarie with a lead of 47 seconds over the peloton.

-32km

There are still around 60 or so riders in the peloton on the climb of Sella Giudicarie, with all of the riders near the top of the overall standings still in contact. Out in front, meanwhile, Froome sits at the rear of the break, where Roche, Sanchez and Grossschartner are prominent. 

Aleksandr Vlasov has his Astana teammates around him queued up just behind the BikeExchange pace-setters in the peloton. The pace is brisk on Selle Giudicarie and, as expected, there are no attacks from the green jersey group.

-30km

The break has crested the summit of that unclassified climb. Froome gave the distinct impression that he was struggling near the top of that ascent but he remains in the break of nine as the stage enters its finale.

-28km

Break:

Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain Victorious), Nicolas Roche (DSM), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech), Felix Grossschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R-Citroën), Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Trek-Segafredo), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ) and Márlon Dina (Eolo-Kometa).

Peloton at 0:50

-24km

Roche and Sanchez are still committed to this move but the margin is beginning to contract on the fast run-in to the base of the day's final ascent to Boniprati. 27 seconds the gap.

-21km

Four kilometres from the base of the final climb and the peloton has closed almost to within touching distance of the escapees. The peloton passes through the finish line in Pieve di Bono for the first time with a deficit of 16 seconds on the leaders.

-19km

Froome's cameo comes to an end as the nine-man break is caught by a reduced green jersey group of 50 or so riders before the final climb to Boniprati.

-18km

The pace is searing on the run-in to the base of the climb, with trains from Astana, BikeExchange, Ineos and Arkea-Samsic marshalling their leaders into position before the gradient bites.

-17km

As the climb begins, Yates' BikeExchange teammates are no longer at the head of the peloton. The green jersey himself, of course, is tucked in safely near the front, where Ivan Sosa (Ineos) sets the pace.

Winner Anacona takes over now on behalf of his leader Nairo Quintana. The front group has shed several components on the lower slopes and there are only around 30 or so riders still in contention.

Anacona climbs with no fewer than five Ineos on his wheel. Ivan Sosa, Gianni Moscon, Daniel Martinez and Sebastian Henao are here to accompany Pavel Sivakov.

-15km

Sebastian Henao is back in front for Ineos and their pace-making has strung the green jersey group into a long line. Gaps are opening at the back of that line but all of the chief contenders still appear to be in place near the front, including Yates, Quintana, Dan Martin, Vlasov and Hugh Carthy.

-14km

There are around 25 riders left in this green jersey group with 7km of the climb to go, as Ineos continue to pile on the pressure.

-13.5km

Gianni Moscon has sat up, leaving Henao, Sosa and Martinez in front setting the pace for Sivakov. Yates sits behind the Ineos cohort with Quintana, Dan Martin, Jai Hindley, Romain Bardet and Aleksandr Vlasov all nearby.

-13km

Henao's work is done and now it's Sosa, his jersey unzipped, who takes over. 6km of the climb to go, and at this brisk rate, we can expect the green jersey group to be whittled down considerably by the summit.

Simon Yates does have one teammate for company in this group - Nick Schultz is still here in what is an increasingly select front group. Hugh Carthy moves up alongside Yates to keep an eye on Ineos' pace-making out in front.

-12km

Sosa pulls off and now it's Daniel Martinez - Sivakov's last man - who sets the pace. They are facing into the steepest part of the climb now, with only 15 riders still in contention.

Domenico Pozzovivo (Qhubeka-Assos) is dropped from the leading group.

-11.4km

Hugh Carthy (EF Education Nippo) attacks with 4.5km of climbing still to go. Martinez continues to set the tempo in the green jersey group behind him.

Sivakov appears to be suffering and Martinez has knocked off the pace... Simon Yates takes over in pursuit of Carthy.

Sivakov has been dropped and Martinez has relented to wait for him. Meanwhile, Yates and Dan Martin have led an elite group across to Carthy at the head of the race.

-11.8km

There are eight riders in the front group: Simon Yates, Dan Martin, Hugh Carthy, Aleksandr Vlasov, Nairo Quintana, Jai Hindley, Pello Bilbao and Jefferson Cepeda.

-10.5km

Vlasov attacks from the leading group and opens a small gap. Simon Yates, however, is climbing very smoothly indeed and he bridges across to him. Hugh Carthy and Dan Martin try to follow.

Further down the mountain, Romain Bardet is trying to chase the leading group, while Sivakov appears to be in considerable difficulty further behind him again.

Yates and Martin join Vlasov at the head of the race, and this trio is pulling away from the remnants of the front group.

-9.7km

Yates is setting a very brisk pace. Vlasov and Martin are struggling to stay on his wheel, while Bilbao and Carthy gave chase a little further back.

-9.5km

Dan Martin is dropped under the force of Yates relentless pace-setting. Vlasov wears a broad grimace but he manage to come through and take a turn.

Martin hasn't given up the ghost and he is chasing the two leaders by himself. Bilbao and Carthy haven't managed to bridge across to the Irishman.

-9km

Yates and Vlasov are through the steepest part of the climb and now carry a lead of 14 seconds over Dan Martin onto the plateau that leads towards the KoM banner with 7km to go.

-8km

Vlasov and Yates combine to hold their small lead over Dan Martin, who is himself just ahead of the splintered fragments of the front group. Sivakov, meanwhile, struggles someway further back.

-7km

Vlasov leads Yates through the mountains sprint atop the climb of Boniprati. They have a technical drop to the line ahead of them, mind...

Dan Martin was third across the top, and he has been joined by Pello Bilbao. They are just 12 seconds down on Yates and Vlasov. Hindley, Carthy and Cepeda are the third group on the road.

-5km

Vlasov and Yates negotiate the succession of hairpins with a lead of 9 seconds over Martin and Bilbao.

Dan Martin crashes on a hairpin... He was too fast into the corner but mercifully he managed to scrub off a lot of speed before bailing out into the ditch. The Irishman appears to be unhurt and he quickly remounts but his hopes of stage victory have gone.

-3.5km

Bilbao, meanwhile, continues to chase alone and he has closed to within 8 seconds of Vlasov and Yates.

-3km

Yates and Vlasov have 8 seconds on Bilbao and 35 seconds on Dan Martin. 

-2.5km

Bilbao comes very close to overshooting a corner himself. He manages to retrieve the situation and he remains almost in sight of the two leaders.

-2km

And then there were three. Bilbao catches Yates and Vlasov with 2km to go, where they are still navigating this white-knuckle succession of hairpins

-1.5km

Bilbao comes straight to the front in a bid to shake off Yates and Vlasov before the end of the descent...

-1km

Vlasov loses a few lengths on a hairpin, and Yates, too, is struggling to hold Bilbao's wheel...

Yates lost hold of Bilbao's wheel but he manages to get back across as the road flattens out. Vlasov, too, is desperately trying to get back on...

Vlasov latches back on just as Pello Bilbao opens the sprint...

Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) wins stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps. 

Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana Premier Tech) has to settle for second. Simon Yates (BikeExchange) comes home in third.

Simon Yates retains the green jersey while Bilbao will move up to second place overall after Sivakov's travails this afternoon.

Nairo Quintana took 4th on the stage at 58 seconds. Jefferson Cepeda and Hugh Carthy came in at 1:06, while Rubern Guerreiro, Romain Bardet and Gianluca Brambilla followed at 1:16.

The on-screen graphics suggested that Dan Martin had been giving chase behind Bilbao after his crash but the Irishman was outside the top 10 on the stage.

Result

1          Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious            4:39:42

2          Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana Premier Tech

3          Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange

4          Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkea-Samsic   00:00:58

5          Jefferson Cepeda (Ecu) Androni-Sidermec     00:01:06

6          Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education Nippo

7          Ruben Guerreiro (Por) EF Education Nippo   00:01:16

8          Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM

9          Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

10        Matteo Fabbro (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe  00:01:22

Dan Martin came home 2:35 down on Bilbao. He falls out of the top 10 on GC as a result.

General classification

1          Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange        15:31:48

2          Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain Victorious            00:00:58

3          Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana Premier Tech 00:01:06

4          Jefferson Cepeda (Ecu) Androni-Sidermec     00:02:18

5          Pavel Sivakov (Rus) Ineos Grenadiers            00:02:37

6          Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education Nippo      

7          Nairo Quintana (Col) Arkea-Samsic   00:02:54

8          Ruben Guerreiro (Por) EF Education Nippo   00:03:12

9          Romain Bardet (Fra) Team DSM

10        Nick Schultz (Aus) Team BikeExchange        00:03:36

Jai Hindley (DSM) was also a faller on that most technical descent. Like Martin, the Australian managed to remount and complete the stage but he slipped out of the upper reaches of the GC.

Today marked the fourth anniversary of the tragic death of Michele Scarponi and Pello Bilbao has dedicated his victory to the memory of his teammate. "Today was a special day and I wanted to have this victory. I knew this was a perfect finish for me. After losing some seconds at the top of the climb, I was convinced I could go back in the front group. These descents are not something to do every day. It’s not possible to take that risk every day but today was a special day. I wanted to dedicate this victory to Scarpa, to Michele, so I gave it everything."

"Everybody who met Michele wanted to dedicate a win to him today," Bilbao says. "For sure, Luis Leon [Sanchez] was in the break with the same idea. He’s always been special  for us and I just want to dedicate this special victory on his anniversary."

For the second year in a row, Simon Yates looks poised to win his final race before the Giro d'Italia after he claimed Tirreno-Adriatico last September. "I tried to do something in the climb there. Bilbao was the only guy I didn't want to arrive with on the descent. We all saw how quickly he can go down there. From a GC point of few it was a good day. It was a really hard start, the team controlled all day. I tried to win for those guys but today I found a faster guy," he said, insisting that nothing was decided ahead of tomorrow's final stage. "There's always a threat, anything can happen. We'll try to do our best and we'll see from there."

A full report, results and pictures from today's stage are available here. We'll be back with more live coverage of tomorrow's concluding stage to Riva del Garda.