Tour Down Under 2015: Results stage 4 - Sprint-victory Steele Von Hoff

Steele Von Hoff is strongest in the 145 kilometres stage to Mount Barkjer. The name sounds like an uphill finish, but far from it. Stage 4 explodes in a bunch sprint marred by a crash. Daryl Impey comes in second and moves up in the overall. Rohan Dennis continues to lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour Down Under 2015: Results 4th stage

1. Steele Von Hoff (aus)
2. Daryl Impey (Rsa) s.t.
3. Wouter Wippert (Nld) s.t.
4. Heinrich Haussler (aus) s.t.
5. Samuel Dumoulin (fra) s.t.
6. Niccolo Bonifazio (ita) s.t.
7. Rudiger Selig (Ger) s.t.
8. Gianni Meersman (bel) s.t.
9. Eugenio Alafaci (ita) s.t.
10. Koen De Kort (Nld) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Rohan Dennis (aus)
2. Cadel Evans (aus) + 0.07
3. Tom Dumoulin (Nld) + 0.09
4. Daril Impey (Rsa) + 0.13
5. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.15
6. Jack Hai (aus) s.t.
7. Ruben Fernandez (spa) s.t.
8. Michael Rogers (aus) s.t.
9. Maxime Bouet (fra) s.t.
10. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) s.t.

Race Report
Michael Hepburn, Peter Kennaugh, Cedric Pineau and Jack Bobridge are off on the first escape of the day. After picking up the mountain points at Sellicks Hill, Bobridge let himself sink back in the peloton at 44 kilometers. The gain forvthe trio never exceeds 3 minutes and nearing the first intermediate they are reeled. Daryl Impey is fastest and takes three bonus seconds.

Ruslan Tleubayev, Maxim Belkov and Pieter Serry take control and get a quick gap of a few minutes, but they will not make it either. Tleubayev drops with 24 kilometres left, while Belkov and Serry are reeled in at 9 kilometres from the finish.

Lars Boom and Luis León Sánchez attack, with the first dropping and Gorka Izaguirre racing over to join his compatriot. But at 5 kilometres it’s all together again.

The pack storms into Mount Barker for a bunch sprint. In the last 50 metres a FDJ-rider hits the deck and in the chaos Steele Von Hoff seizes the opportunity and powers to victory. Daryl Impey claims second place and bonus seconds again. The South-African is now fourth in the overall, 13 seconds down on leader Rohan Dennis.

Stage 5 brings the all-decisive race with an uphill-finish in Willunga Hill.