Stage 4: Mareczko makes a hat trick
Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) made it three in a row in Danzhou to beat Peter Sagan’s total of thirty-six victories in his first three pro seasons. He extended his lead overall while Martin Laas (Delko Marseille) and Anthony Giacoppo (IsoWhey Sports-Swisswellness) rounded out the podium.
121 riders started stage 4 in Chengmai. Oleksandr Polivoda (Kolss), Hou Weijie (Keyi Look), Serghei Tvetcov (Jelly Belly) were the first attackers but their ambitions were short lived due to the KOM price located only 22km after the start line. Vitaly Buts (Kolss) made the best of it as he fended off his rivals Benjamin Hill (Attaque Gusto) and Benjamin Prades (Ukyo).
The intermediate sprint at km 38 was also highly contested with Laas taking the first place and a lot of hopes for the green jersey while Dylan Page (Swiss National Team) and Marco Zanotti (Monkey Town) were second and third, the Italian giving a strong indication that he’s chasing time bonus because of his ambitions on GC. Mirco Maestri (Bardiani CSF), Rick Van Breda (Monkey Town), Zhang Zheng (Hengxiang) and Jacopo Mosca (Wilier Triestina) rode away after the sprint but got caught at km 50.
Travis Samuel (H&R Block), Oleksandr Prevar (Kolss), Sven Van Luijk (Monkey Town) and Alfredo Castillo (Jelly Belly) got more luck. They got a maximum gap of 3.30 at km 75. Almost 90km were covered in the first two hours! The advantage of the quartet was reduced to 1.15 with 25km to go and 30 seconds at the 10km to go mark. They were reined in 3km before the end.
Wilier Triestina set up another perfect sprint for Mareczko who enjoyed the slightly downhill to the finishing line to win once again with the length of a bike.
Post race quotes:
Stage 4 winner and race leader Jakub Mareczko: “It’s been a long stage and a difficult one to control because in the first sixty kilometers everyone was looking for breaking away. It was lumpy all day. But we kept it under control and at the end, [Eugert] Zhupa took me to the front at perfection. When I got out of his wheel, it was all very simple. I have to thank Eugert and all my team-mates from Wilier Triestina. They’ve done an exceptional work. It won’t be a bunch sprint finish every day but as long as we have a chance, we go for it. OK, this is my 37th pro victory and I’m pleased with the number. I’m told that Peter Sagan got 36 in three seasons but his wins have another value. We’ve won at totally different races. It can’t be compared. I got most of my wins on Asian soil, where I found stage races with a lot of stages and a lot of flat stages, unlike in Europe where there are many more climbs.”
Second placed Martin Laas: “I’m quite happy with my sprint. Our team worked very well for me today. The last guy supposed to lead me out [Emil Liepins] was dropped after being stuck behind some other riders. We were together with Asbjorn [Kragh Andersen] but one kilometer was too long for him to drag me, so I was alone for the last 400 metres. I had to take a bit of wind and then Mareczko started sprinting. I had already made a little effort but he could go with fresh legs. He went straight away to the front and it stayed like this till the line. It’s ok. I’m happy. Early in the race, I won the first intermediate sprint so I regained a few points on Mareczko but in the end, he got more points on the finishing line again. But we keep fighting for the green jersey!”
Third placed Anthony Giacoppo: “My sprint probably went a little bit better today. Our team took it a little bit earlier and I was in a better position. When Mareczko jumped he got a gap. We were closing down towards the end but it was too late. We don’t have Scott Sunderland here, so we’ve been unsure of who to sprint for. We’re both [him and Michael Freiberg] lead out men sprinting. Sometimes I can climb as well. I don’t know how good I can go here. There are some pretty good climbers. The hill is pretty big on stage 7 but I’ll try. We have GC riders [Robbie Hucker] but if I’m good enough to make it over the climb, then it’s a bonus but it’s unlikely.”
King of the Mountain Vitaly Buts: “Today, I knew the hill was not too hard. I suffered yesterday but today I won the KOM price with no problem and I managed to retain the lead. I felt much better than yesterday. It’s not my first time going for the KOM and in the past, I’ve ridden for both KOM and GC. Two years ago, I was second in the KOM competition but this year I want to win it. I might as well hang on on the climb in stage 7 and do well on GC like fifth two years ago.”
Most combative rider Sven van Luijk: “Our main goal is the overall classification with Marco Zanotti who is a sprinter but he’s not the best sprinter in the race this year. He has trained a lot uphill. We think he can survive the climb on stage 7 and sprint for that stage victory, which could put him in the front of the overall classification. That’s why I tried to get some seconds bonus in the intermediate sprints today. Also, we try to make the breakaway every day because we think that one day, Wilier won’t be able to control the whole race and we hope to be at the front when that happens.”
Best Asian rider Liu Jianpeng: “I’m not famous enough yet with this distinctive jersey but I definitely want to become famous in cycling. Another rider from our team was supposed to break away today but it didn’t happen, so we’ll go for it in the next few days. I consider that all other Asian riders in the race remain my adversaries for the Best Asian rider competition. I will eat well and rest well to do my best in the queen stage.”
