Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Gianluca Brambilla made it into a lead group of about 11 riders inside the final kilometers of a climbing stage that included an early Cat. 2 climb, and an HC and Cat. 2 climb back-to-back in the middle of the 146km Stage 4 on Wednesday.
He finished 10th, 26" back from Mathias Frank (BMC Racing Team), who won the stage solo after attacking Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Matija Kvasina (Team Gourmetfein - Simplon) late in the race. Sorensen finished 2nd, Kvasina 3rd.
Brambilla had lost contact between the HC ascent and the Cat. 2 climb immediately following, but managed to work his way back with each passing kilometer. The group of 11 continued to splinter heading toward the finale, and Brambilla was unable to stick with the leaders. Gianni Meersman and Dries Devenyns finished not too far behind Brambilla.
OPQS looks next to a 228.3km Stage 5.