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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 4: CHICCHI CHARGES TO VICTORY
Road Bike Action
May 19, 2010
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(Photo: Ken Conley)
Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) won stage four of the Tour of California ahead of JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank) and Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia). Race leader David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) maintained his overall lead.
On the day’s first KOM climb up Sierra Road Lars Boom (Rabobank Cycling Team), Jurgen Van De Walle (Quick Step), Max Jenkins (Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis), Robert Britton (Bissell), Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda), Scott Stewart (Team Type 1), Davide Frattini (Team Type 1) and Ryan Anderson (Kelly Benefit Strategies) rode clear and half way up the climb they had 1:00 gap.
At the front of the break Van De Walle set the pace, which proved to be too fast for Frattini and Stewart. Nearing the top of the climb Jenkins was also left behind as the break’s gap increased to 2:50. On the descent to the town of Livermore the break’s advantage continued to grow and at the first sprint bonus of the day it was up to 4:50. The break worked together through the sprint bonus with Boom crossing in front of Powers and Anderson.
On the way to the second and final KOM of the day up Mines Road, the break’s gap had increased to over 6-minutes with Anderson taking the KOM points in front of Van De Walle, Britton and Boom. By taking the KOM points Anderson, moved into the lead in the King of the Mountains competition and sat up. With only the long descent and flat run into Modesto left it was going to be a drag race to the line between the break and the HTC-Columbia led peloton. With 62-kilometers to go the break’s gap was down to 4:05.
At 50-kilometers left to ride the gap was down to 2:45 and falling. As the gap tumbled, it appeared that the break would be reeled in with ease. That was until Boom turned on the gas and stretched the break’s lead back to 3:30 with 40-kilometers to go. At the 35-kilometer to go mark there was a crash in the peloton that split the field. RadioShack seized the opportunity and went to the front, shattering the peloton for the second day in a row. At the 30 kilometers to the gap was again dropping and stood at 1:45. With RadioShack on the front the gap quickly dropped to 30-seconds. When the peloton reformed behind the RadioShack train the team turned off the pressure, allowing the gap to slide back out to 1:00 with 20-kilometers left to race.
With 17-kilometers remaining, Powers was dropped from the break. Seeing the break collapsing around him, Lars Boom launched a vicious attack. At first it appeared that Boom would ride away, but Van De Walle and Britton clawed their way back 3-kilometers later.
With 10-kilometers to go the gap was down to 20-seconds when Boom attacked again hoping for a solo victory. It wasn’t to be and he was pulled back with 6-kilometers remaining to setup a field sprint. As the Cervélo and HTC-Columbia teams fought for control at the front of the race, Rabobank tried to steel the stage by sending two riders off the front. The HTC-Columbia team reeled them both in before the 1-kilometer to go banner. Despite HTC-Columbia’s presence on the front it wouldn’t be enough to get Cavendish the win. With the HTC-Columbia train running out of steam, Cavendish was forced to go early and was passed by Haedo and Chicchi.
Tour of California Stage 4: San Jose - Modesto 195.5km
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita/Liquigas-Doimo 4:55:02
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg/Saxo Bank) @ s.t.
3. Mark Cavendish (GBr/HTC-Columbia)
4. Theo Bos (Ned/Cervelo)
5. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus/Fly V Australia)
6. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/BMC)
7. Ken Hanson (USA/Team Type 1)
8. Andreas Stauff (Ger/Quick Step)
9. Alex Candelario (USA/Kelly Benefit Strategies)
10. Guillaume Boivin (Can/SpiderTech)
General Classification After Stage 4
1. David Zabriskie (USA/Garmin-Transitions) 18:04:35
2. Michael Rogers (Aus/Team HTC-Columbia) @ .04
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Team RadioShack) @ .06
4. Peter Sagan (Svk/Liquigas-Doimo) @ .21
5. Marc De Maar (Ned/Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis) @ .24
6. Janez Brajkovic (Slo/Team Radioshack) @ .27
7. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin-Transitions)
8. Rory Sutherland (Aus/Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis)
9. Thomas Danielson (USA/Garmin-Transitions)
10. Peter Stetina (USA/Garmin-Transitions) |
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