Ivo Oliveira celebrates again in Abruzzo! The Portuguese UAE Emirates XRG rider secured his second personal success in the fourth stage of the Tour, racing from Corropoli to Isola del Gran Sasso over 166 km. Second place on the day went to Sjoerd Bax, third to Giovanni Bortoluzzi ahead of Fiorelli and Crescioli. The German Georg Zimmermann concludes his Italian journey by winning the overall title in the 2nd Abruzzo Tour.

THE RACE. The stage had one main protagonist, George Bennett: practically from the first kilometer, the Israel Premier Tech rider attempted breakaways, inserted himself in every attempt, and tried in every way to make a difference and redeem his less brilliant performance from the previous day. The most important action developed after about fifty kilometers and was promoted by George Bennett (Israel Premier Tech), Sjoerd Bax (Q36.5), Federico Guzzo (Padovani), Alessandro Tonelli (Polti VisitMalta), Joel Suter (Tudor), Ivo Oliveira (UAE), Martin Marcellusi (VF Bardiani Csf Faizanè), Alexandre Balmer (Solution Tech Vini Fantini).

Simone Raccani (JCL Team Ukyo) tried to rejoin the breakaway leaders after the first passage through the Isola del Gran Sasso finish line, remained exposed for many kilometers but was eventually forced to surrender and return to the group. Among the breakaway riders, Guzzo was the first to give up, though satisfied with securing the blue mountain jersey of the Abruzzo Tour. At the last mountain grand prix, Bennett, Bax, Tonelli, Oliveira and Marcellusi remained at the front, while Louis Meintjes long controlled the main group for his captain Zimmermann.

On the descent, Bax made a move which Oliveira joined with a typical track rider's action once the race returned to flat terrain. The withdrawal of Bennett, Tonelli and Marcellusi, who couldn't maintain Bax and Oliveira's pace, led to a change at the front of the group: VF Group and Petrolike began pulling hard to try to catch the breakaway and contest the stage victory.

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STAGE RESULTS

1. Oliveira Ivo (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in 03:58:49
2. Bax Sjoerd (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team)
3. Bortoluzzi Giovanni (General Store-Essegibi-F.Ili Curia) + 12
4. Fiorelli Filippo (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè)
5. Crescioli Ludovico (Team Polti VisitMalta)
6. Macias Cesar (Petrolike)
7. Covi Alessandro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
8. Fancellu Alessandro (JCL Team Ukyo)
9. Dati Tommaso (Biesse-Carrera Premac)
10. Conti Valerio (Solution Tech-Vini Fantini)