Julian Alaphilippe takes fourth victory for Quick-Step Floors at Colombia Oro y Paz
Feb 10 2018 02:20 am CET
Photo of Julian Alaphilippe by Jonathan Roorda / CyclingPub.com
Julian Alaphilippe has won the fourth stage of Colombian Oro y Paz. The rider continued the winning strike for Quick-Step Floors by crossing the finish line ahead of Sergio Henao and Nairo Quintana.
It was the first day of climbing in the Colombian race with a 149.5-kilometre route that featured an uphill finish. The day started with an escape of around 20, including riders like Tao Geoghegan Hart (Sky), Fernando Gaviria, Alvaro Hodeg and Iljo Keisse (Quick-Step Floors).
At around 28 kilometres to go, Gaviria and Cesar Paredes (Medellin) made a jump from the breakaway, but eight kilometres later they were reeled back in by the peloton as it prepared for the last ascent of the day.
The compact bunch arrived to the five-kilometer mark, after which home rider Robinson Chalapud attempted an attack. The Medellin rider got a small gap but was soon caught by those left in the pack.
Team Sky and Movistar unsurprisingly controlled things in the closing kilometers, trying to avoid attacks by their rivals as the finish line neared.
Rigoberto Uran and Jonathan Narvaez tried to get away with one kilometer to go but failed to do so. Team Sky's Sergio Henao thene launched a powerful attack and was surpassed by Quick-Step's Julien Alaphilippe, who went on to take the victory ahead of the Colombian. Nairo Quintana of Movistar took third place.
By winning the stage, Alaphilippe made it four in a row for Quick-Step as Fernando Gaviria had already won the first three stages.
Alaphilippe almost moves to the top of the overall standings at the expense of his teammate. Henao and Quintana complete the top three.
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