Ireland's Jamie Meehan on the attack at AlUla Tour | Video

Jamie Meehan of Cofidis, fourth in line, in the breakaway during the 184km stage 4 at AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia today (Photo: Charly López)

Ireland's Jamie Meehan was long going up the road when he first raced for Cofidis, during his late season stagiaire, last year and now he's been on the move again, this time on stage 4 of AlUIa Tour.

His breakaway livened up an otherwise dull affair as the field raced through desert landscapes for 173.4km to the finish in Hegra. Meehan's group was a large one, numbering 16, and gained two minutes at one point.

However, one of those present was Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies), who was just 49 seconds down overall, ensuring the breakaway men were never going to be given too much freedom. Lidl Trek had already won the two sprint stages with Jonathan Milan and that team - as well race leader Yannis Voisard's Tudor Pro Cycling - had strong interest in keeping things under control.

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Indeed, the pursuit of Meehan and his breakaway companions began with well over 100km remaining on the stage, though a big split in the peloton in the crosswinds also livened up the racing back in the bunch.

Clockwise from top left: Dunwoody, far left, with his Bahrain Victorious team, Matteo Malucelli wins the day, Jamie Meehan sixth from left in the breakaway (Photos by Charley Lopez and Tony Esnault)

The breakaway was caught with almost 60km still to race and, though Zeb Kyffin (Terengganu Cycling Team) went for a late solo flier, the honours were settled in a somewhat unusual bunch sprint.

With just 2km to the finish, the pace seemed quite modest, especially for those at the back who were well sheltered from the breeze on the exposed roads. But just after they ducked inside the 2km to go marker, suddenly the pressure was applied at the front by the sprinters' teams.

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And though Milan looked poised to collect another win, he went a little too early and didn't have his usual staying power. Matteo Malucelli, a 32-year-old Italian riding on his second year as a World Tour pro, with XDS Astana Team, rode a streetwise sprint to win.

He was glued to Milan's wheel in the final 200m and when the big Italian went to early, Malucelli waited and waited before coming around him at the last to take it, taking a big scalp and looking delighted by his efforts.

Three of the five Irish riders in the field finished in the peloton, albeit with small gaps emerging in the bunch during the sprint. Meehan and Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) were 60th and 62nd, both at 14 seconds, while Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious) was 72nd at 32 seconds.

Liam O'Brien (Lidl Trek), who rode a great final climb yesterday for 12th on the stage, and Dillon Corkery (Picnic PostNL) were 94th and 95th, in a group nine minutes back.

With a steep climb just before the finish tomorrow, O'Brien, Dunbar and Meehan may fancy their chances, with an Irish stage win, or a podium result, a real possibility. O'Brien has already shown his form while Dunbar will be smarting from the puncture on Wednesday that ended his general classification hopes.

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