The 4th step of the CRO Race was logically considered the queen stage of this 2024 edition, with 160.5 steep kilometers between Krk and Labin, traditional finish of the Croatian event at the top of a cobbled hill of 1.8 km at 5.7% – where a certain Jonas Vingegaard had established itself two years ago. Despite Poklon’s exceptional climb at mid-race and his 11.7 km at 6% average, it was a peloton reduced to around thirty units which presented itself for the win in the final, with victory strong and a puncher Tobias Lund Andresen ! After hanging on in the main difficulty of the day, the young Dane was the favorite for this uphill sprint in small groups, and he was able to respond to win his sixth bouquet of the season.
Video – Brandon McNulty remains overall leader after this 4th stage
Brandon McNulty on track for the general, Barguil in the top 10
After a lot of work Team dsm-firmenich PostNL all day to allow him to play for victory, the 22-year-old sprinter-puncher knew how to perfectly manage his effort on the last climb, waiting for the last meters to show his burst of speed and come to crucify the duo of the Bahrain Victorious composed ofEdoardo Zambanini et Fred Wright which seemed to be heading towards a beautiful double. Tobias Lund Andresen finally ahead of the young Italian and the Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking (Uno-X Mobility), Fred Wright having crashed a bit and finishing 4th.
Very strong to defend his leader’s red jersey, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) even allowed itself the luxury of launching the final sprint from afar and took a 7th place on the line which allowed it to maintain the overall lead without any worries. With the bonuses, he sees the winner of the day return to 2nd position but still 25 seconds behind, a margin which seems comfortable to go to the end at the dawn of a weekend without great difficulty. Edoardo Zambanini takes him to the last step of the podium at 31 seconds. Warren Barguil (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) also achieved a good stage with an 8th place which allows it to enter the top 10 overall, in 9th position and 40″.
The race summary
Contested in slightly milder conditions than the day before, even if the weather remains very cool and humid, this 4th stage sees a group of five breakaways break away at the start of the race. Robert Stannard (Bahrain – Victorious), Hugo Aznar (Equipo Kern Pharma), Ryan Mullen (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Marsman Team (Metec – SOLARWATT p/b Mantel) et Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) is up to 4 minutes ahead of the peloton, a gap which will then narrow as the big part of the day approaches: the non-category climb of Poklon, with 11.7 km to 6 % of average to climb. While the rain reappears once we arrive at the foot of this climb, the teams Skins of the Comet et UAE Team Emirates pick up the pace to make the selection.
Ryan Mullen et Marsman Team are quickly left behind at the front, the remaining trio led by Andreas Leknessund seeing his advance melt like snow in the sun. The platoon was quickly reduced to around 25 units under the leadership ofIgor Arrietaauthor of a big relay. Pablo Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma) then sets the stage on fire in the most difficult portion, and is the overall leader Brandon McNulty in person who makes the effort to take it back. The American seems strong, and a small group of 8 strong men including the Frenchman Warren Barguil (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) emerges. The leading trio still manages to reach the summit with around 30 seconds of margin on the favorites, while there are still 56 km to go.
Regrouping 20 miles from the goal, a reduced peloton
The runners then embark on a long descent which should lead them to the final circuit around the finishing town of Labin. The sun is returning, which does not prevent Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) to fall heavily in a corner after entering the group of favorites. Logically, understanding is not very good in this group, with no one wanting to ride so far from the finish. A time delay which allows a lot of those who are left behind to come back over the kilometers. Andreas Leknessund et Robert Stannard give everything to the front, while their companion on the run Hugo Aznar lets himself be let go to ride at the head of a peloton which is finding more and more consistency and beginning to organize itself.
The racing situation then stabilizes, and we therefore find a pack of around forty units chasing the breakaway duo who are resisting as best they can. But the latter finally stumbled on a false flat rising portion which was fatal to them 23 km from the goal. This end of the breakaway gives ideas to some, but the team dsm-company PostNL comes rolling to restore a little order and promote the designs of Tobias Lund Andresenwho managed to hang on and looked like a scarecrow in the event of a sprint finish in a small group.
Tobias Lund Andresen strong in Labin!
The first passage over the finish line in Labin at the top of a paved bump of 1.8 km at 5.7% is logically the scene of several accelerations, notably of Pablo Castrillo et Alexander Hajek (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe). It is finally Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) who manages to get out on the flat, but the Briton is alone and remains within firing range of a platoon still around thirty units strong. He ends up giving up two miles from the line, and it is therefore a bumpy sprint which will conclude this day. Brandon McNulty launches hostilities from very far away and imposes a big tempo which hurts. In his wheel, a duo of the Bahrain Victorious be patient then take the lead. Fred Wright et Edoardo Zambanini seem to be heading towards a double and victory, but the last 100 meters are endless. Very patient in this finale, Tobias Lund Andresen then appears at the last moment and drops them both for a strong success!
CRO Race – Ranking of the 4th stage
CRO Race – Provisional general classification after the 4th stage
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