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cycling: Ruta del Sol #4: Tim Wellens inflicts a bitter defeat on Sky

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Waves Ruta del Sol

Cycling: Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) inflicted a severe defeat on Team Sky. The Belgian won the fourth stage of the Ruta del Sol and unbuttoned the jersey of the previous leader Wout Poels (Sky). There was no sign of Chris Froome (Sky) on the final climb. However, the Brit also broke down a few kilometers from the finish.
[gap height=“25″] Wellen's Tim Ruta del Sol 2018 Profile Stage 4
[gap height=“25″]

13 professionals try their luck in the escape

Today the peloton had to cover 194,7 kilometers at the Ruta del Sol. From Seville we went on a partly mountainous course to Alcalá de los Gazules. With the Puerto de las Palomas and the Puerto del Boyar, the two mountain classifications had to be crossed in the middle of the race. 13 of them saw good chances of a successful escape Andrew Amador (movistar), Sep Vanmarcke (Team EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale), 5towatch-Candidate Guillaume Martin and Thomas Boudat (Direct energy) who the first stage won. The group broke up on the climbs. Amador and Vanmarcke then continued to fight as a duo, but they could still be caught on the poisonous final climb

Wellens achieves a great success - Sky knocked off

The last 1.200 meters were steep climbs. The Alcalá de los Gazules is eleven percent steep on average and even has cobblestone passages. Mikel Landa (Movistar) and Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) hit the ground running. The gap that could no longer be closed quickly opened up. Around 400 meters from the finish, Tim Wellens launched another attack, which even Mikel Landa shook off. The Belgian cheered exhaustedly when he crossed the finish line, but in addition to winning the stage, he can also be happy about the lead in the overall standings. But it's close as Mikel Landa is just seven seconds behind him, Wout poels eleven. So the decision about the overall victory at the Ruta del Sol 2018 will only be made on the last day. Tomorrow is a 14,2 km individual time trial in Barbate.

Tags:NewsRoute of the SunSkyTim WellensVuelta in Andalucia

About Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.