Very interesting last part of the race for LAMPRE-MERIDA, that was protagonist of the final kilometers of the 4th stage of Vuelta (Mairena del Alcor-Cordoba, 164,7 km) thanks to Winner Anacona and Valerio Conti.
The Colombian rider (photo Bettini) attacked from the bunch, that had neutralized the main breakaway of the race, in the final part of the last climb of the course.
Yates joined immediately Anacona, few hundreds meters later also Valverde and Sicard reached them, arranging a four riders breakaway that, after having reached the summit of the Kom, had a max advantage of 30″ on the peloton.
Unfortunately for the attackers, some sprinters could come back in the bunch in the downhill, so their teams led the chase to the breakaway, that was neutralized at 9 km to go.
A 60 riders group entered in Cordoba for the final sprint and LAMPRE-MERIDA had an unexpected protagonist: Valerio Conti, in fact, fought in the head position, obtaining the 8th place.
Degekolb won the stage, preceding Reynes and Matthews, who’s still the leader of the overall classification.
In the head group, for LAMPRE-MERIDA there were, in addition to Conti, also Favilli (12th), Niemiec (33rd) and Anacona (43rd).
Thanks to his action in the sprint, Conti could return to be leader of the allaround classification, so tomorrow will wear again the white jersey.
In the overall classification, Niemiec is 16th, at 40″ to Matthews.
“We did not succeed in joining the main breakaway of the stage despite this was one of our
target for the day, however we could be protagonists thanks to Anacona and Conti in the final part of the stage - sport director Matxin said - Winner’s action was very good, unfortunately he was joined by Valverde and this caused the reaction by Orica that chased the attackers in order to defend the red jersey of Matthews.
Another good performance by Conti, who followed Tony and Daniel Martin when they went in the head of the peloton: Valerio tried to do the best in the sprint and he got back the white jersey”.
STAGE RESULTS
1- Degenkolb 4h02’55″
2- Reynes s.t.
3- Matthews s.t.
4- Caruso s.t.
8- Conti s.t.
12- Favilli s.t., 33- Niemiec s.t., 43- Anacona s.t., 78- Pozzato 3’42″, 139- Serpa 13’44″, 140- Cunego s.t., 167- Ferrari 16’55″, 183- Richeze s.t.
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION
1- Matthews 13h30’44″
2- Quintana 8″
3- Valverde 15″
4- Uran 19″
16- Niemiec 40″
