Cycling: John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo) has won the fourth and final stage of the Tour de la Provence. The German all-rounder was able to prevail in the final sprint in front of Simon Clarke (EF Education First) and Anthony Maldonado (St Michel - Auber93). In the battle for the overall standings, things got really exciting again. Gorka Izagirre (Astana) ultimately won the title - because of 13 hundredths in the prologue.
John Degenkolb celebrates his first win of the season
The fourth stage of the Tour de la Provence took the riders 162,2 kilometers from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence. On the last day of the four-day tour, the sprinters should have their chance for the first time. However, after three climbs in the third category and a descent to the finish line, not all fast men were among the front runners. But John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo) couldn't be shaken off. After the escapees were caught, the 30-year-old German was able to secure the day's victory in a mass sprint. The first three stages of the Tour de la Provence 2019 started Filippo Gana (Sky), Edward Prades Reverter (Movistar) and Philip Gilbert (Deceuninck - Quick Step).
????????@johndegenkolb of 🇺🇸@TrekSegafredo wins stage 4 of 🇫🇷@LaProvenceSport #Tour de La Provence #TDLP #TDLP2019 pic.twitter.com/WVCM1WDu3v
- World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) 17. February 2019
Gorka Izagirre wins the hundredth poker ahead of Simon Clarke
At the same time, in the university town, there was a real hundredth of a poker game in the stands behind John Degenkolb. Because before the final stage went Gorka Izagirre (Astana) by just two seconds Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) and Tony gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale) into the race. Also fourth place simon clarke (EF Education First) still had hopes, just eight seconds down. These increased when the Australian secured two seconds in an intermediate sprint. Tony Gallopin also grabbed a second, leaving the favorites for overall victory just one, two and six seconds apart. As Tony Gallopin finished fourth and just barely missed a time bonus and Simon Clarke's six-second time bonus was not enough, Gorka Izagirre stayed ahead of the overall standings. There is now a tie between Izagirre and Clarke, but the 13 hundredths of the opening time trial speak for the Spaniard.