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Kamnik, Slovenia – Slovenian cyclists did an outstanding job today on the Tour of Slovenia and give fans what they wanted – 4 of them were in top-10, with RogliÄ winning the stage and taking the green jersey.
Fourth stage of the Slovenian tour got a nickname Alps stage due to the three hard climbs in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Slovenian hero Primož RogliÄ (LottoNL-Jumbo) attacked on the last of the three climbs (Volovljek, II. cat, 1039 m) and reached the top alone, but after that he still had 20 kilometers to the finish. He gave everything on the descent and then showed his time-trial capabilities and finished the race 33 seconds ahead of the chasing group. He’s now in the green jersey of the race leader, which should be enough to secure overall victory. There is just time-trial ahead and Primož excels at it.
RogliÄ again had outstanding support from his fans: “The outcome is better than yesterday. I didn’t have any big tactics, I just asked the guys for the help and then I went for it. Of course it also helps that I have the advantage of the home terrain. I’m repeating myself everyday, but it’s really nice out there racing in front of all these fans. This show is for them. However the race is not over, I’ll have to focus very hard and do my best tomorrow.”
How it happened
Race started in Slovenian capital Ljubljana, first 60 kilometers were more or less flat with three intermediate sprints. Italian Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates) – winner of the first stage – won two of them and secured himself a red jersey. Soon after that the first successful breakaway happened, the group was 14 men strong on its peak and had a lead of over two minutes. On the top of climb to Jezersko (II cat, 1211 m) Italian Fausto Masnada (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec) made a solo break. The group behind him felt apart at first and reorganized only after the hardest section of the race – five kilometer long climb to PavliÄ Pass (I cat., 1338 m, average incline of 10.2%). Masnada also conquer this one and got enough points to take the blue jersey for the KoM classification. Now came the time for the best climbers that formed a strong chasing group, including 3rd stage winner Rigoberto Uran (Col/ EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale), 2017 Tour of Slovenia winner Rafal Majka (BORA hansgrohe) and Slovenian favorite Primož RogliÄ. And this is where we’re in the beginning of today report – on the amazing attack by RogliÄ and his stage victory.
Battle for second
Race to the finish line in Kamnik was really battle for second place. Group of 9 chasers clashed in the sprint and Slovenian again took the glory. Matej MohoriÄ (Bahrain Merida) got to the front on the descents and was the strongest of the bunch, finishing ahead of Majka, Tadej PogaÄar (Ljubljana Gusto Xaurum) and Uran. 2012 Tour of Slovenia winner Jani BrajkoviÄ (Adria Mobil Cycling) was also in the group, finishing in 9th place. MohoriÄwas honest about his triumph: “Sprint didn’t decide the day, Primož did. He was really strong and he deserves this victory.”
PogaÄar, still a U23 cyclists, who surprised many with 5th place overall on the 2017 edition also had lots of fans in what is almost his hometown. This year he is again behind the fastest and he wanted to do good today: “It was very hard from very start, but I soon got into my rhythm. I got additional strength with all the support on the top of the climbs. On the end I was making sure that I had the white jersey in sight. I was already couple of meters behind at the time of the RogliÄ’s attack. I was giving everything to keep up with Uran and Majka, I even tried with the attack, but there wasn’t enough power in my legs to pull away. I’m satisfied regardless. I’m not too sure about tomorrow’s time-trial, but I think I can get the white jersey.”
Tadej is three seconds behind “white jersey” Australian Michael Storer (Team Sunweb), who was 6th on the stage.
Last day of the race will gave us the final winner of the 25th edition of the Tour of Slovenia, anything else than a confirmation of the Primož RogliĒs win would be a surprise. But this is racing and anything can happen.
LINKS
Video highlights – stage 4
Stage and overall results, start list for Sunday’s time-trial
Photos by Sportida |
