Eddie Dunbar started today’s queen stage in 13th, and looked on for a top 10 overall, but he found the going tough on the final climb (Photo: Massimo Fulgenzi-SprintCyclingAgency)

Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) has slipped back at Tour de Romandie, finding the going though on the queen stage of the World Tour race, which included the big finish atop Thyon 2000 on today’s stage 4.

With snow by the roadside, and rain lashing down heavier as the road climbed higher, the field split to pieces, as expected, on the final ascent, a brutal cat 1 climb of just over 20km and averaging 7.1 per cent gradient.

As the front group thinned from the base of the climb, Dunbar and Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) both slipped off the back with 8km to go; Ryan and Darren Rafferty having earlier ridden for team mate and yellow jersey, Alex Baudin, who lost 11 minutes today.

Though Ryan managed his effort quite well, even when distanced, Dunbar appeared to have a tougher time. Ryan crossed the line at the top of the climb in 22nd place, some 3:23 down on stage winner, and new race leader, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious).

Dunbar, who had started the day in 13th overall, was not too far down on Ryan in terms of stage placings, though lost a couple of minutes more. He finished in 30th place at 6:05. Irish road race champion Rafferty was 60th at 17:55.

Up front, Martinez and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) rode away from a five-man select group that formed as the climb progressed.

Almeida looked the strongest of the duo – and is fancied to be crowned overall winner after tomorrow’s TT – though Martinez made minimal contribution to the workload and won the two-up sprint.

They were 29 seconds up on Thursday’s stage winner, Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team). Just two seconds behind him, the other two men who had been in the initial five-strong select group – Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) – were 4th and 5th.

Going in to tomorrow’s TT – where Rafferty may perform well – Martinez leads overall by two seconds from the battling Fortunato. Almeida – who should beat both men ahead of him in the 17.1km TT tomorrow – is 3rd at three seconds.

Ryan, who climbed quite well today, is now best-placed of the Irish trio, in 23rd at 5:30. Dunbar is 26th at 6:27 and Rafferty is 41st at 19:03.