Tour de Suisse 2017: Warbasse soloes to mountain victory, Caruso new leader

The 4th stage in the Tour de Suisse amounts to 143.2 kilometres and takes in two tough ascents. Larry Warbasse brings the early break home on the 11.1 kilometres closing climb, finishing 40 seconds ahead of the GC-contenders. Damiano Caruso comes in second, Steven Kruijswijk in third. Caruso is the new leader. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2017 Tour de Suisse

1. Larry Warbasse (usa)
2. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.40
3. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
4. Simon Spilak (slo) s.t.
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.44
6. Mathias Frank (swi) + 0.47
7. Marc Soler (spa) + 0.59
8. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 1.07
9. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 1.20
10. Rui Costa (por) + 1.34

24. Jarlinson Pantano (col) + 3.53
41. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 7.12

GC after 4th stage
1. Damiano Caruso (ita)
2. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.15
3. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.24
4. Simon Spilak (slo) + 0.24
5. Marc Soler (spa) + 0.31
6. Mathias Frank (swi) + 0.33
7. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 1.09
8. Rui Costa (por) + 1.10
9. Valerio Conti (ita) + 1.20
10. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 1.25

Race report
At km 14 Lars Boom, Larry Warbasse, Antoine Duchesne and Nick van der Lijcke manage to force a gap, which they widen to 8 minutes.

On the first climb, Col de Mosses, Boom is dropped. His compatriot Van der Lijcke is first to crest with the peloton 5 minutes in arrears.

Duchesne and Van der Lijcke can’t follow Warbasse’s pace on the last climb, while Tom Dumoulin, Ion Izagirre, Rui Costa and title defender Miguel Ángel López are dropped from the pack, where Steven Kruijswijk pushes hard. Only Soler, Pozzovivo, Spilak, Frank and Caruso are strong enough to follow.

Pozzovivo heads out on his own and when he is brought back Frank gives it a go. But both riders are not capable to catch the 26-year old American. Warbasse powers on to take the first pro-victory in his career and the first ever victory for wild card team Aqua Blue Sport.

Frank is caught in the last km and Damiano Caruso sprints to second place, ahead of Steven Kruijswijk, to take the leaders jersey.