Giro 2020: Démare bests Sagan and Ballerini in millimetre sprint, Almeida still leader

Arnaud Démare sprints to victory in the 4th stage, outgunning Peter Sagan and Davide Ballerini in a photo finish. João Almeida extends the GC lead with a 2 seconds time bonus in the intermediate sprint. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Giro d’Italia 2020

1. Arnaud Démare (fra)
2. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
3. Davide Ballerini (ita) s.t.
4. Andrea Vendrame (ita) s.t.
5. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
6. Stefano Oldani (ita) s.t.
7. Davide Cimolai (ita) s.t.
8. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
9. Filippo Fiorelli (ita) s.t.
10. Enrico Battaglin (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. João Almeida (por)
2. Jonathan Caicedo (ecu) + 0.02
3. Pello Bilbao (spa) + 0.39
4. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.44
5. Harm Vanhoucke (bel) + 0.55
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ita) + 0.57
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 1.01
8. Brandon McNulty (usa) + 1.13
9. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 1.15
10. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.17

11. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.28
24. Simon Yates (gbr) + 3.48

Race report
A breakaway of three attacks from the gun. Simon Pellaud, Kamil Gradek and Marco Frapporti open up a gap of more than 4 minutes.

Gaviria, Viviani and Hodeg can’t follow the pace in the peloton on the climb, while Pellaud accelerates in the last kilometre to pocket most KOM points. The peloton crests the Portella Mandrazi 1.30 minute behind the Swiss rider, who resides in Colombia.

Pellaud is caught just after the second intermediate sprint, where leader Almeida pockets a time bonus of 2 seconds. Meanwhile, Viviani makes it back to the bunch, while Hodeg and Gaviria and their team mates are not so successful.

A late attack by Scotson is neutralised in the last 100 metres before Démare, Sagan and Ballerini battle it out in a millitre sprint. The Frenchman takes the spoils.

Almeida finishes safely in the peloton to extend the GC lead with 2 seconds.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2020 Giro d’Italia.