Tour de Wallonie (st. 4)

Ventoso (8th), Lobato (9th) both within top ten at chaotic fourth sprint in Waremme; Movistar Team tries to break harmony with attacks by Sanz and Gutiérrez. Mini-Liège set to decide GC on Wednesday

Pictures (c): Tour de Wallonie

They grumbled barely after crossing the finish line, Fran Ventoso and Juanjo Lobato unable to find any gaps to contest a complicated, consecutive fourth sprint finish in the Tour de Wallonie, which will tackle its decisive day tomorrow and saw Tom van Asbroeck (TSV) crossing the line first after 174km from Herve to Waremme. The eleven côtes on the route did not avoid the sprint, but made things harder, and the Movistar Team riders had their share on the task.

The final 50km saw several Blue attacks: starting with Iván Gutiérrez, then followed by Enrique Sanz, and ultimately on a duo move that was interrupted by an ill-timed puctunre for the Spanish youngster, when the two Movistar riders have ammassed almost one minute’s gap after the OPQ-led bunch. In the inevitable sprint, Lobato -helped out by Sütterlin- and Ventoso looked to overcome through both sides of the road, but were unsuccessful – eighth and ninth in the results.

The 35th edition of the Belgian race will end on Wednesday over the côtes of la Roche-aux-Faucons (Cat-1), Saint-Nicolas (Cat-1) and Ans (Cat-2), in 184km that will resemble Liège-Bastogne-Liège in its finale. Juanjo Lobato will start the day in 2nd place overall.