Gaps between the general classification widened after stage three.
Kasper Asgreen – making his return to competition for the first time since time trialling to silver at the National Championships held at the end of June – animated the penultimate day of the Czech Tour, which travelled from Moravska Trebova to Dlouhe strane, where the hardest climb of this edition awaited.
Just like on Friday, the stage got off to a fast start, but a group rode away only after 40 kilometers. The strong 15-man move featured also Asgreen, who produced a strong effort and took some long pulls, despite the fact the peloton decided to keep the escapees on a tight leash. Riding the Czech Tour for the first time in his career, Kasper left everything out there, but eventually got caught in the last 30 kilometers, after the chasers upped the pace on the Mladenov ascent.
On the final climb, averaging 7.9% over 8.5 kilometers, a selection was made early, not only due to the big tempo pushed at the front, but also because of a pile-up that caught behind many riders, including Julian Alaphilippe. As a result, our team was left just with Mattia Cattaneo in the group and the Italian concluded the stage won by Thomas Gloag (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the best Soudal Quick-Step rider.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
Kasper Asgreen 