Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Matteo Trentin made an escape group of eight riders, which was down to just five leaders with a little more than 25km to go at 186km Ster ZLM Toer - GP Jan van Heeswijk on Saturday.
The lumpy stage, including a passage of La Redoute and multiple of La Gileppe, was hectic enough to splinter the peloton, including into echelons at later portions of the race. However, the peloton still came back together with 10km to go. Two riders attacked inside the final km, but were caught with 2km to go. The peloton split up once again heading into the final, with many gaps shown between finishers.
Lars Boom (Blanco Pro Cycling) found the right moment on the finishing climb of La Gileppe to launch his own attack, and went on to win the stage. Davide Rebellin (CCC Polsat Polkowice) was 2nd, and Maurits Lammertink (Vacansoleil-DCM) was 3rd.
OPQS rider Michal Golas was the top finisher, in 5th place crossing the line in a small group of nine riders 6" back from the top three finishers. Mark Cavendish finished in 8th place.
Boom took over the race lead with the victory, while Cavendish — 2012 champion — moved into 3rd in the GC (+25"). Golas is just a second behind him in 4th place.
OPQS looks next to a final 176.2km Stage 5 on Sunday, which includes several finishing laps. The race favors a sprint, but there is still plenty of possibility for a breakaway to prevent the predicted bunch finale.