Alexis Guerin on his solo victory at Coppi e Bartali stage four - "Rode almost a hundred kilometers, without looking back, moving at my pace"

The fourth stage of Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali was a momentous occasion for Alexis Guerin as he earned his first professional win.

“It was planned for me to be in the breakaway,” he said on the team’s website. He continues,” We didn't cooperate well at the start at the front of the race. So we started with four to 100 kilometres from the finish.”

He briefly describes how his persistence and decision-making helped him maintain a safe distance from the peloton. “I decided to go out alone five kilometers further. I picked up my pace on a climb and was forty seconds ahead at the top of the bump. I continued at this tempo. We had to go up and down all day, with eight to ten kilometer climbs, very steep, at 10-12%. So I rode almost a hundred kilometers alone at the front, without looking back, moving at my pace.”

Even though the chasing group appeared to be closing in on him at one point, he surprisingly managed to defend his lead until the end. “My advantage certainly melted in the final but I was able to keep fifteen seconds to savor my victory. I dedicate this success to the whole team. We have been working very hard together since the beginning of the week, our cohesion is superb and, inevitably, it ends up paying off,” he concluded.