Giro 2015 Stage 4: Formolo wins spectacle-race, Clarke takes pink

A lot of climbing in the 150 kilometres between Chiavari and La Spezia, resulting in nothing short of a spectacle. Young Italian Davide Formolo is strongest and Simon Clarke takes the pink jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2015 Giro

1. Davide Formolo (ita)
2. Simon Clarke (aus) + 0.22
3. Jonathan Monsalve (col) s.t.
4. Giovanni Visconti (ita) s.t.
5. Esteban Chaves (col) s.t.
6. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
7. Amael Moinard (ita) s.t.
8. Dario Cataldo (ita) s.t.
9. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
10. Richie Porte (aus) s.t.

21. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.04.

GC after stage 4
1. Simon Clarke (aus)
2. Esteban Chaves (col) +0.10
3. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.17
4. Alberto Contador (spa) s.t.
5. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.23
6. Dario Cataldo (ita)
7. Giovanni Visconti (ita) + 0.29
8. Amael Moinard (fra) + 0.31
9. Davide Formolo (ita) s.t.
10. Richie Porte (aus) + 0.37

14. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 1.11

Race report
Adam Hansen is up for it, but the pack isn’t, and he is caught soon after his attack. Paolini, Atapuma and Polanc are next to try and jump of the front of the peloton – without success. Chavanel, same story.

On the the flanks of the first categorized climb Colla di Velva a large group leaves the pack. Aboard are among others Pieter Weening, Maxime Montfort, Andrey Amador, Dario Cataldo, Darwin Atapuma, Roman Kreuziger, Davide Formolo, Simon Clarke, Esteban Chaves and Giovanni Visconti. Zardini escapes and takes most KOM-points. The Italian is now 1 point down on Kocketkov.

Thirteen riders get clear from the front, Simon Clarke is one of them. He is second in the GC. After twenty kilometers the original front regroups. But nor for long. One after the other tries to break free. Once at the Passo del Termine Amador, Puccio, Moinard, Zeits, Montfort, Formolo and Colbrelli are upfront. In the pack Astana is setting the pace and Matthews is dropped, just like winner in the Tour de Romandie Ilnur Zakari.

Descending the Passo del Termine the front group is accompanied by Colbrelli, Moinard, Atapuma, Chaves, Monsalve, Visconti, Clarke, Sivtsov, Cataldo and Kreuziger.

The peloton with GC men is 1 minute down when riding up the last climb. Formolo is the first to crest with Visconti and Moinard half a minute down. In the descent the GC-men catch the chasers, but Formolo stays ahead and race to the win. Still only 22 years of age, he celebrates his first Grand Tor win.

Simon Clarke was on the attack the whole day also and he sprints to second place. The Australian is the new man in pink.