Stage 4: ORSIÈRES / CHAMPEX-LAC
The Giro Ciclistico Internazionale della Valle d’Aosta – Mont Blanc goes back to Switzerland for its 4th stage after 5 years and it does it with style with a 129 km long stage and 4.400 meters of elevation gain. After the start in Orsières, the breakaway goes ahead during the ascent towards Champex Lac. Among them there are Huys (Lotto Soudal) and Battistella (Dimension Data for Qubheka), supported by Evans (SEG Racing Academy), Scaroni and Petrucci (Groupama FDJ). After the technical descent and the demanding Petite Forclaz, the gruppetto grows bigger before the last three climbs of the stage. The peloton manages the gap thanks the teams of the favourites that do the rhythm. On the Col de Lein the breakaway falls apart and the yellow jersey Vansevenant (EFC L&R Vulsteke) shows his abilities. Hailemichael (Dimensio Data For Ghubeka), Vansevenant and Parra Cuerda (Equipo Lizarte) pass through the KOM; the other contenders follow in small groups. Lopez Perez (Kometa Cycling Team) joins the head of the race on this particular climb. On the Col des Planches the race stays very dynamic and the breakaway in enriched by the presence of Inkelaar (Groupama FDJ) and Van Wilder (Lotto Soudal). But the yellow jersey strikes again! At the KOM there are Hailemichael, Inkelaar, and Parra Cuerda on the lead. During the descent the dutch rider Schelling (SEG Racing Academy) makes an impressive move but the stage is not coming to an end. Hailemichael and Lopez Perez attack and the leading bunch explodes. Lopez Perez wins the sprint. Second place goes to Hailemichael and third to Buitrago (Team Cinelli, that did a wonderful final part of the stage). Vansevenant and Inkelaar arrive togheter to the finish line. Vansevenant keeps the yellow jersey before the last stage, the KOM jersey goes to Hailemichael while Inkelaar and Guglielmi from Groupama FDJ keep respectively the youth and the red jersey.
Stage ClassificationKm. 128,000 - average 28,607 km/h | Overall ClassificationKm. 574,000 - average 32,305 km/h | |||||||
| 1. | LÓPEZ PEREZ Juan Pedro KOMETA CYCLING TEAM | 04:28:28" | 1. | VANSEVENANT Mauri EFC – L&R - VULSTEKE | 17:46:05" | |||
| 2. | HAILEMICHAEL Mulu Kimfe DIMENSION DATA FOR QHUBEKA CON | a | 02" | 2. | HARTLEY Adam SEG RACING ACCADEMY | a | 04'30" | |
| 3. | BUITRAGO SANCHEZ Santiago TEAM CINELLI | a | 05" | 3. | INKELAAR Kevin ECC GROUPAMA FDJ | a | 09'18" | |
| 4. | VAN WILDER Ilan LOTTO SOUDAL U23 | a | 18" | 4. | CHEVALIER Maxime VÉLO CLUB PAYS DE LOUDÉAC | a | 11'38" | |
| 5. | INKELAAR Kevin ECC GROUPAMA FDJ | a | 18" | 5. | HAILEMICHAEL Mulu Kimfe DIMENSION DATA FOR QHUBEKA CON | a | 11'57" | |
| 6. | VANSEVENANT Mauri EFC – L&R - VULSTEKE | a | 18" | 6. | LÓPEZ PEREZ Juan Pedro KOMETA CYCLING TEAM | a | 12'39" | |
| 7. | RIES Michel KOMETA CYCLING TEAM | a | 21" | 7. | CONCA Filippo TEAM BIESSE CARRERA | a | 13'21" | |
| 8. | CONCA Filippo TEAM BIESSE CARRERA | a | 01'06" | 8. | BUITRAGO SANCHEZ Santiago TEAM CINELLI | a | 13'24" | |
| 9. | HARTLEY Adam SEG RACING ACCADEMY | a | 01'31" | 9. | SCHELLING Ide SEG RACING ACCADEMY | a | 14'41" | |
| 10. | OLDANI Stefano KOMETA CYCLING TEAM | a | 02'20" | 10. | PARRA CUERDA José Felix EQUIPO LIZARTE | a | 19'17" | |
The stage in videos
The stage in pictures
Technical Info
Stage 4: ORSIÈRES / CHAMPEX-LAC | km. 128.0 |
The Swiss stage from Orsières to Champex Lac is ideal for grimpeurs with five KOM’s over 128 km. The uphill start will be on a 9 km scenic road towards Champex Lac for the first time. After going down to Martigny, the riders will climb the Petite Forclaz (4 km but with an average slope of 9%). After going back to Martigny, 40 km of easy roads will be ideal to start the Col du Lein (13 km) with its last sector on an unpaved road and then the Col des Planches, with incredible slope degrees especially in the first part. Another time in Martigny and then there will be the last climb from Bovernier ( 11 km - 7% average slope with 10% peaks) to the finish line in Champex Lac.
Tourist Info
Departure
Orsières is the capital of the municipality bearing the same name. Aside from having an interesting centre architecturally speaking as well as a bell tower dating from the 13th century, the village is perfectly located at the entrance to the Grand-St-Bernar Valley and the Val Ferret, 15 minutes from the three ski areas of La Fouly, Champex-Lac and Vichères-Liddes as well as Le Châble, the gateway to Verbier/4 Vallées.
Read more : www.saint-bernard.ch
Arrival
Nestled around a magnificent Alpine lake, this village has nurtured a traditionally warm welcome for over a century. The resort is appropriately nicknamed “Switzerland’s little Canada” with its vast forests, lake and traditional wooden chalets.
Read more : www.saint-bernard.ch
