Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan backed off in an unusual finale to Giro d'Italia stage 4 on Italian soil today, with former national French champion Nacer Bouhanni (Fdj.fr) winning out on the day (Photo: Sirotti)
It may have rained for the three Irish stages that began the 2014 Giro d’Italia over the weekend, but the wet weather did not interrupt the racing, unlike the tour’s first stage back on Italian soil today.
Following yesterday’s rest day and transfer from Dublin, the riders today faced the shortest stage of the race; a 112km leg from Giovinazzo and Bari, with the conclusion set for eight laps of an 8.3km circuit
However, when the rain fell from the start and made the road surface former national French champion Nacer Bouhanni (Fdj.fr), the riders became fearful that the very smooth surface on the finishing circuit would bring crash carnage and engaged in a go-slow.
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The real racing only began just inside 45km remaining when the commissaries agreed that the time for general classification would be taken when the bunch passed through the start finish area to go out onto the last lap.
It meant any rider not going for the stage win or leading out a sprinter was able to opt out of the action on the last lap and so neutralise the chances of falling off and losing time.
The unusual scenario saw the Orice-GreenEDGE team of race leader Michael Matthews ride tempo on the front for large chunks of time until the last lap began.
They then pulled over as the riders got the bell, signalling they planned to take no part in the battle for the stage win on the final lap.
Instead, Cannondale took up the honours for their sprinter Elia Vivinai but they fell on a corner, scattering the small group of lead riders intent on going for the sprint finish.
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At that point it was the Giant-Shimano team that hit the front, though their double stage winner in Ireland and overnight points classification leader Marcel Kittel had abandoned the race when he came down with fever.
In his absence, they were trying to lead out Tom Veelers to challenge for stage victory.
However, it was former national French champion Nacer Bouhanni (Fdj.fr) who prevailed in the sprint to take the stage after an epic ride to get back on when he punctured with two laps remaining.
In the chaotic dash to the line he edged Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factor Racing) into second place, with Veelers third and Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida) in fourth. Those four riders were well ahead of the remainder of the much depleted front group.
Like all of the other riders looking to do a general classification ride, Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) backed off on the last lap and was credited with the same time as the winner. Similarly, Philip Deignan (Team Sky) did not contest the stage win.
The result today leaves Roche in 26th place overall, still some 37 seconds behind Australian race leader Matthews. Deignan is 39th and still at 49 seconds.
The young Australian Giro leader, Michael Matthews and his team were instrumental in arranging an agreement mid stage that enabled riders not interested stage honours to sit up on the final lap of eight 8.3km loops and not lose any time overall (Photo: Sirotti)
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