Soudal Quick-Step’s neo-pro is rewarded after spending another day in the breakaway.
Pepijn Reinderink became the new custodian of the KOM jersey with just two days to go at the Asian race, after another solid outing in the breakaway. The Dutchman jumped away from the peloton as soon as stage four got underway, and together with three other riders he built a solid gap over the peloton that allowed the breakaway to stay at the front until the closing kilometers.
Winner of the mountain standings at last month’s Tour de Luxembourg, Pepijn picked up points on the day’s four classified climbs, before once again forcing a selection in the final part of the stage. Only Stan Dewulf (Decathlon AG2R) could follow Reinderink, and the duo began believing they could make it, only for their hopes to be crushed by a ruthless peloton just two kilometers from the line.
The stage once again ended in a bunch sprint, won by Ethan Vernon (Israel Premier Tech), the leader of the general classification. Arguably the most combative rider of the Tour of Guangxi so far, Pepijn took to the podium to pull on the race’s polka dot jersey, which the 22-year-old has a strong chance of taking home, the buffer he has over the closest rider being of 14 points with two days remaining at the Tour of Guangxi.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
