Tour de Romandie 2024: Solo triumph Carapaz in Leysin, Rodriguez new leader

foto: Cor VosRichard Carapaz wins the Queen Stage of the Tour de Romandie. The Olympic Champion drops Florian Lipowitz and Carlos Rodriguez with 2 kilometres to go, although the German returns on the home straight but finishes in his wheel. Rodriguez finishes in third to take the GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2024 Tour de Romandie

1. Richard Carapaz (ecu)
2. Florian Lipowitz (ger) s.t.
3. Carloz Rodriguez (spa) + 0.10
4. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.14
5. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
6. Egan Bernal (col) + 0.27
7. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) + 0.31
8. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 0.40
9. David Gaudu (fra) + 0.41
10. Christián Rodríguez (spa) + 0.44

11. Juan Ayuso (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Carlos Rodriguez (spa)
2. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 0.07
3. Florian Lipowitz (ger) + 0.09
4. Ilan Van Wilder (bel) + 0.21
5. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 0.27
6. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.38
7. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 0.49
8. Lenny Martinez (fra) + 0.52
9. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 1.02
10. Egan Bernal (col) + 1.23

Race report
Bart Lemmen, Raúl García Pierna and Nelson Oliveira break away after 10 kilometres of action. The peloton does not agree and keeps chasing until Juri Hollmann, Josef Cerny and Dorian Godon make it six at the front, and dust settles down.

The leaders initially put 4 minutes into the peloton, but the gap narrows to 30 seconds on the first climb of the day. The lead group is halved at the summit, with only the initial attackers remaining – Bart Lemmen, Raúl García Pierna, and Nelson Oliveira.

Oliveira breaks away alone on the descent, but Lemmen, García Pierna, and Godon catch up with him again in the valley. Clémen Berthet adds fresh energy to the front of the race.

Lemmen picks up the pace as the roads steepen once more, with Berthet the sole rider able to match his tempo. The Frenchman heads out alone with 52 kilometres remaining and he tackles the finishing climb 1 minute ahead of the peloton.

Egan Bernal attacks as Berthet is caught halfway up the climb. Carlos Rodriguez jumps across, with Richard Carapaz on his wheel. Leader Juan Ayuso, Aleksandr Vlasov, Florian Lipowitz, and Enric Mas also make the junction.

Lipowitz jumps clear, while Rodriguez and Carapaz follow his move. The Olympic Champion heads out alone in the last 2.2 kilometres. He seems to open up a comfortable lead, but then it’s Lipowitz who returns on the home straight. He sprints full throttle, but it’s too late, and he finishes second.

Rodriguez crosses the line 10 seconds later to take over the leader’s jersey from his compatriot Ayuso, who drops to fifth place overall.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2024 Tour de Romandie.