In the fourth day of the Tour de Pologne the distances finally decrease, however it won’t be an easy day for anyone. It’s a very mixed day, favouring to a breakaway more than all previous days, however with a profile that can also see a sprint or a slight GC fight on the road.
There will be 2600 meters of climbing in a day that features a much more rolling profile, as damage will be dealt throughout the day, and the sprint dynamics may come to play in the day’s main climbs as some teams will try to make a selection.
CyclingUpToDate prediction:
**** Ethan Hayter
*** Quinten Hermans, Pello Bilbao
** Sergio Higuita, Samuele Battistella, Diego Ulissi
* Mauro Schmid, Richard Carapaz, Thymen Arensman, Sean Quinn
4.6Km at 5% (32.5Km to go) and 4.8Km at 5.9 (18.5Km to go). They are not hard climbs, however they can be selective. They will not be hard enough to shed all sprinters, aswell as to make any decisive attacks based on power, however the GC fight may be decided on opportunist attacks and this will be one of them!
If the sprinters are to fight for the win then they equally have to resist what will likely be a high pace throughout the two ascents.
As for the finale, it’s quite tricky. Inside the city of Sanok the riders will face tight corners, several changes of gradient into the final kilometer, where fight for positioning will be crucial. The final 500 meters see very tight streets with uneven pavement, and also gradients that go up to 7%. Although not very hard, it’s surely a day for the puncheurs or sprinters who can take it.