Fabio Aru battles in Tirreno-Adriatico’s queen stage

Fabio Aru finished fourth in the queen stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico today after counter-attacking on the ramps leading to the Sassotetto at 1345 metres. The 12-kilometre summit finish closed out the 219-kilometre stage, averaged 7.1% and peaked out at 13% – a true test for the classification stars.

“My condition is improving, day after day I feel better,” Aru said. “In the final, I tried, but I still lack that little bit of acceleration. Anyway, it was a great day for me and for the team considering that I’m not at my top yet. I would like to underline that the team is working well, we are a great group and we all improving in every aspect.

“The Giro d’Italia is certainly my season objective, but there are still two months to go beforehand. We are working calmly with this in mind.

“Tomorrow will be a special day and I hope to honour it as much as possible. I miss Michele [Scarponi], like everyone in the group. I’m happy that the organisation could dedicate a stage to him in his town.”

Spaniard Mikel Landa (Movistar) won the stage ahead of Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) and George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo). In the overall classification, Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing) leads with Aru 12th at 45 seconds.

Tomorrow they face the fifth stage from Castelraimondo to Filottrano, 178 kilometres over Michele Scarponi’s roads. The undulating stage includes a hard kick of up to 16% in Filottrano with around five kilometres to race.

Finishing order

1 Mikel Landa (SPA) Movistar 6:22:13

2 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora – Hansgrohe s.t.

3 Geroge Bennet (NZI) LottoNL-Jumbo s.t.

4 Fabio Aru (ITA) UAE Team Emirates +6”

Overall classifation after four stages

1 Damiano Caruso (ITA) BMC 17:14:49

2 Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) Team Sky +1”

3 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb

12 Fabio Aru (ITA) UAE Team Emirates +45”