Etixx - Quick-Step Cycling team and the peloton had their first big climb finish of the road season on Thursday, at Tour de San Luis Stage 4. Alto el Almago, a climb of 10km with an average gradient of 7%, was the end of 142.5km Stage 4 starting Villa Dolores.
The result of the early season finish was a splintered peloton, and Michal Kwiatkowski as the top finisher for the team in 46th place.
Daniel Diaz (Funvic-São José dos Campos) extended his GC lead by winning solo. He attacked with a few kilometers left in the climb along with Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Alex Diniz (Movistar), and then Rodolfo Torres (Colombia). Diaz then dropped his break mates on the steeper sections.
Four riders were in the original breakaway of the day, and they had two minutes of an advantage as they made it to the final climb.
Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to the 17.4km ITT on Friday, with a descent to start and an ascent to finish.