The Frenchman moved closer to yellow after another day on the attack.
Julian Alaphilippe became favourite to take home the green jersey of the race after another strong showing, on the toughest stage of the week so far. Victorious on the previous stage thanks to a canny attack that fooled the sprinters and moved him up to second on the general classification, the 32-year-old was again prominent on Saturday, when the peloton tackled seven ranked ascents.
The stage four breakaway numbered only four riders, but they managed to open a gap of ten minutes which forced the bunch to pull really hard on the climbs. Soudal Quick-Step worked tirelessly at the front, home rider Martin Svrcek putting in a colossal effort to reduce the buffer of the escapees. By the time they reached the base of the final hill, around one minute was separating the chasers from the leaders, and that was the cue for Alaphilippe to launch a stinging attack.
The two-time World Champion forced an important selection, only a handful of riders being able to join him, and continued to push after the top, clawing back time on the roads to Ruzomberok. Unfortunately for him, they ran out of road and the breakaway made it for just a couple of seconds, Johannes Adamietz (Lotto Dstny) taking the win from that small group.
Alaphilippe concluded top ten and remained second overall, just two seconds from yellow. At the same time, Soudal Quick-Step’s leader cemented his place at the top of the points classification, which he is favourite to win on Sunday, when the Okolo Slovenska will come to an end with an uphill finish in Strbske Pleso.
Photo credit: ©Sona Nikova
Julian Alaphilippe 