Paris-Nice 2015: Porte takes stage, Kwiatkowski leader

Stage 4 is the longest and most hilly in Paris-Nice 2015. With Thomas De Gendt on a successful attack the whole day to take the polka dot jersey, SKY takes control on the 10 kilometres closing climb. Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas finish one and two, with Kwiatkowski 8 seconds down on the men in black. The Pole regains his yellow jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Paris – Nice 2015: Results 4th stage

1. Richie Porte (aus)
2. Geraint Thomas (gbr) s.t.
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.08
4. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
5. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.17
6. Rui Costa (por) + 0.24
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
8. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
9. Rafael Valls (spa) s.t.
10. Simon Spilak (slo) s.t.

GC after the 4th stage
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol)
2. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.01
3. Geraint Thomas (gbr) + 0.03
4. Tejay van Garderen (usa) + 0.27
5. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.32
6. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.38
7. Rui Costa (por) + 0.41
8. Gorka Izaguirre (spa) + 0.44
9. Tiago Machado (por) + 0.50
10. Rafel Valls (spa) + 0.51
11. Simon Spilak (slo) + 0.52
12. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.53
13. Romain Bardet (fra) + 1.01
14. Luis-Leon Sanchez (spa) + 1.12

Racereport
Thomas De Gendt and Antoine Duchesne attack straight away. Chris Anker Sorensen jumps off the front of the pack and bridges the gap. The trio races to a comfortable gap and at the Côte de la Cheval Rigon Thomas De Gendt takes all KOM points. That will be the story of the day. The Belgian crests all peaks first, thus taking the polka dot jersey.

Along the way Duchense is dropped from the break.

The maximum gain of the escapees was 8 minutes, but at the foot of the closing climb they are caught. Now it’s up to the GC men. With 8.8 kilometres left Tiralongo attacks, while Rafal Majka is dropped at the back. After 2 kilometres Tiranlongo is absorbed by the SKY-controlled pack. Leader Michael Matthews is the next victim as the black brigade pushes on. Geraint Thomas attacks at 3 kilometres and he is accompanied by Spilak and Fuglsang. When Porte joins the front he is off with his team-mate Thomas. The two of them do a brilliant job and finish one (Porte) and two (Thomas), while Kwiatkowski finishes at 8 seconds. Just enough to regain the yellow jersey.