World time-trial champion Filippo Ganna (Ineos) won the fourth stage of the Etoile de Besseges Photo: Twitter @INEOSGrenadiers
World time-trial champion Filippo Ganna (Ineos) won the fourth stage of the Etoile de Besseges today after shaking off the other survivors of a long breakaway in the final kilometres.
The 24-year-old Italian was part of a small group that escaped early in the 151.6km ride from Rousson to Saint-Siffret.
Ganna powered away from the other six breakaway members, holding on to win by 17 seconds.
He was followed home by Frenchman Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) and German Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Belgian Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) kept his 44-second lead over compatriot Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) in the general classification.
The race finishes on Sunday with an 11km time-trial in Ales in which Ganna will start as the overwhelming favourite.
Magnifique 👌 @GannaFilippo pic.twitter.com/BBffax6Hsk
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) February 6, 2021
Stage four
| 1 | Filippo Ganna | ITA | 3:22:59 |
| 2 | Christophe Laporte | FRA | +0:17 |
| 3 | Pascal Ackermann | GER | |
| 4 | Greg van Avermaet | BEL | |
| 5 | Milan Menten | BEL | |
| 6 | Bryan Coquard | FRA | |
| 7 | Cyril Barthe | FRA | |
| 8 | Nils Politt | GER | |
| 9 | August Jensen | NOR | |
| 10 | Mads Schmidt | DEN |
*Selected
| 107 | Morne van Niekerk | RSA | +03:31 |
General classification
| 1 | Tim Wellens | BEL | 13:40:54 |
| 2 | Edward Theuns | BEL | +0:44 |
| 3 | Mads Schmidt | DEN | +0:46 |
| 4 | Michal Kwiatkowski | POL | +0:48 |
| 5 | Philippe Gilbert | BEL | +0:49 |
| 6 | Greg van Avermaet | BEL | +0:50 |
| 7 | Jake Stewart | GBR | |
| 8 | Nils Politt | GER | |
| 9 | Christian Eiking | NOR | |
| 10 | Michael Gogl | AUS | +0:58 |
*Selected
| 111 | Morne van Niekerk | RSA | +24:09 |
