The 4th stage of this Belgian Tour – or Baloise Belgium Tour – will have kept its promises! Indeed, this “queen stage” and its classic journey around Durbuy (173 km), will have allowed the best pumnors of this 94th edition of expressing themselves. And it is Jenno Berckmoes Who won! On the attack in the company of Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech), Orluis Aula (Movistar) et Filippo Baroncini (UAE Team Emirates XRG), the Belgian of the Training Lotto was the strongest in the final ascent to win before Fridge et Auxil. Filippo Baroncini grant him the head of the general classification, with 4 and 7 seconds in advance on Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) et Berckmoes.
VIDEO – The summary of this 4th stage of the Belgium Tour Baloise
The summary
A group of five runners took the lead from the start in Durbuy: Gianni Marand (Tarteletto), Alexys Brunel (TotaalEnergies), Michiel Hillen (Baloyian Glowi Lions), Axel Huens (Unibet Tietema Rockets) a Tom Portsmouth (Wagner Bazin WB). Their advance has never exceeded three minutes. 80 km from the finish, a group of fifteen favorites has emerged, notably with the general leader Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step), Huub Artz (Intermarché-Wanty), Filippo Baroncini (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech), Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto), Carlos Canal et Orluis Aula (Movistar). Alpecin-DECEUNINCK Not being represented, the team rolled to control the gap and return to the head.
45 km from the finish, Auxil attacked. Baroncini, Berckmoes et Fridge joined him soon after. With only 17 seconds late to the general, Baroncini became a threat to Haytermore Soudal Quick-Step remained passive. INEOS Grenadiers et Intermarché-Wanty have taken matters into their own hands, while Philipsen had to respond to attacks himself. Baroncini took six seconds of bonus in the gold kilometer, then Fridge tried his luck in solo. The Italian dug a good gap, but was taken over in the final. At four, they resisted the return of the peloton. On the Durbuy Wall, Baroncini tried to make the difference for the general, but it is Berckmoes who launched the sprint and won ahead Fridge et Auxil. The peloton arrived 16 seconds later, allowing Baroncini to seize the leader jersey, with 4 and 7 seconds ahead of Hayter et Berckmoes.
