The city of Ganja welcomes the peloton in glorious sunshine and temperatures just above 20°C for the 4th stage of the Baku Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race on Heydar Aliyev Avenue in front of the grand municipal government palace. 126 professionals from 24 teams set off punctually at 9.35 am into a 1.1 Km long neutralised section. The course, just under 153 kilometres long, features two sprint classifications and two mountain classifications.

Race summary
Immediately after the sharp start, the race heads into a climb, at the end of which the first mountain classification awaits in Göygöl. At 2.2%, this climb is the flattest, but at 13.5 kilometres it is also the longest of the overall nine mountain classifications in the tour.

Several attacks are launched from the peloton in this early section oft he stage, but these are repeatedly thwarted.

The first mountain classification (km 13.7) yields the following result:
1. Lennert Teugels 3
2. Josh Burnette 2
3. Doğukan Arikan 1

After 30 kilometres, the peloton is yet cycling together. Shortly afterwards, a group of ten riders successfully breaks away. After 64 kilometres, the first sprint classification takes place at the Goranboy Olympic Complex.

Results of the first sprint classification (km 64.3):
1. Fabrice Lefèvre 5 3’’
2. Raman Tsishjou 3 3’’
3. Feri Febi Saputra 2 1’’

In the ten-man leading group, the Spaniard Pablo Carrascosa attempts a breakaway, but is caught by the group shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, Feri Febi Saputra (ID) drops out of the leading group.

The second sprint classification (km 92.1) in Qarada yields the following results:
1. Fabrice Lefèvre 5 (3”)
2. Raman Tsishkou 3 (2”)
3. Pablo Carrascosa 2 (1”)

Next comes a 30-kilometre climb to the day’s second mountain classification. The leading group still consists of nine riders and has a 2:35-minute lead over the peloton, though this is gradually shrinking. In the peloton, Team Kern Pharma is setting the pace, bringing the field back together. Gleb Syritsa, the current holder of the sprinter’s jersey, is also forced to drop back here.

The second mountain classification (km 123.4) yields the following results:
1. David Alejandro Gonzales 5
2. Pablo Carrascosa 3
3. Antoni Muryi 2
4. Jaebin Yun 1

Pablo Carrascosa then increases the pace in the breakaway group, whilst in the peloton, Team Bardiani CSF 7 Saber initially sets the pace, followed later by Team Burgos Burpellet BH. With 13 kilometres to go, the breakaway riders are finally caught. In the final kilometres before the finish, Team Bardiani CSF 7 Saber picks up the pace, causing the peloton to stretch out.

Finale
In the bunch sprint, Italian Marco Manenti (Team Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) has the strongest legs and wins ahead of Henok Mulbrhan from Eritrea (XDS Astana Team) and Spaniard Cristian David Pita (Team Roojai Insurance Winspace).

Marco Manenti also takes the green jersey as the best sprinter. Belgian Lennert Teugels (Team Tartelette – Isorex) retains the red jersey as the best climber, whilst Spaniard Iker Gomez (Equipo Kern Pharma) remains the wearer of the white jersey as the best young rider.

125 of the 126 riders who started this morning have successfully crossed the finish line today.

Tomorrow’s final stage covers 181.5 kilometres from Tartar to Khankendi. The start is at 8.35 am in front of the Tartar District Executive Authority.