Stage 4 of Tour de Suisse 2024 took the riders from Rüschlikon to the Saint Gotthard Pass. The route was 171-kilometers long and featured many kilometers of riding through flat terrain but included a Category Two climb late in the stage, before culminating on the Category One Gotthard pass. This would be no stage for the sprinters in the professional cycling peloton.

Eight riders established a strong breakaway group early in the stage and set out on a mission to build as large a time advantage as possible before the two hard climbs in the stage finale. The eight optimists were Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorius), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis Team), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarche-Wanty), Gerben Kuypers (Intermarche-Wanty), Michael Matthews (Jayco-Alula), Roland Thalmann (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), and Swiss Pro Cycling Team’s Jan Sommer. 

After one hundred kilometers of racing in somewhat flat terrain, the front group had an advantage of 06:40 minutes. But the real challenges of the stage still awaited the riders.

In the main peloton the Lidl-Trek, Arkea – B&B Hotels, and EF Education-EasyPost teams were setting the pace. 

Current Tour de Suisse leader Alberto Bettiol crashed and had to be brought back to the front of the peloton after consulting the race doctor. He was now patched together on both elbows, but still looked fabulous in the yellow race leader jersey. His EF Education team, however, was riding for team captain Richard Carapaz in this stage.

Defending Tour de France Champion Matthias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) suffered a mechanical defect.

Calmejane attacked solo from the front group as the riders started their climbing. He was trying to force an early selection in the front group. Dillier, Matthews and others responded. Sommer was dropped.

With twenty-five kilometers remaining, the front group had a lead of 05:50 minutes and the wind conditions were playing to their advantage.

With 14 kilometers remaining, a duo of Træen and Thalmann had been established at the front. Dillier was chasing fifteen seconds behind. Calmejane was thirt-five seconds behind the front duo. The front breakaway riders had an advantage of four minutes at this point.

Træen left Thalmann behind with eleven kilometers left of the stage. He now had a remarkable chance of winning today’s stage 4 of Tour de Suisse for his Bahrain-Victorious team.

Felix Gall (Decathlon-AG2R) and Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) attacked from the main peloton – or favorites group – with approximately eight kilometers remaining. A crash now occurred in the rear part of the favorites group. The crash brought down Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) and Wilco Kelderman (Team Visma – Lease a Bike).

Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) also attacked from the main peloton. The riders were now riding along green and snowy fields, while also contesting paved roads. 

With 2.5 kilometers remaining Træen was solo in front. Yates and Thalmann were chasing 01:24 minutes behind. Skjelmose was two minutes behind in a trio with Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) and Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers).

With 1.3 kilometers remaining of the grueling Category One climb to the finish line, front rider Træen had an advantage of just 45 seconds.

Træen won the stage in solo fashion. What a victory by the Norwegian rider. Adam Yates finished second, while Mathias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) completed the stage podium.

Adam Yates is the new General Classification leader of Tour of Switzerland 2024.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Tour de Suisse 2024.

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