The first of the race’s four summit finishes reshuffled the overall standings.
The climbers finally had their day after three stages which didn’t bring any significant gaps to the general classification which Yves Lampaert leads for two stages after his individual time trial victory in Vaduz.
Seven riders formed a breakaway soon after the start, and despite establishing a maximum gap of seven minutes, the peloton looked to be in control at all times, as several teams joined forces to chase the escapees and bring them back before the final climb – the Gotthardpass (8.2km, 6.6%) with its challenging cobbled slopes, which hosted a stage finish for the first time in five years.
Their plan didn’t work and somehow the leading group started the ascent more than three minutes clear, a gap which in the end was enough for Torstein Traen (Bahrain-Victorious) to take the win ahead of the pre-race favourites, who came home around half a minute behind him. The first Soudal Quick-Step rider to conclude the stage was Louis Vervaeke, who’s also our best man in the general classification.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
