Results Czech Tour 2026 Stage 4 - Alessandro Fancellu denies Andrew August third win in a row as INEOS rider seals general classification
Cycling
Alessandro Fancellu has won the fourth and final stage of the 2026 Czech Tour on Sunday ahead of Andrew August and Nicolas Breuillard. In the general classification, August brought an 11 second lead into the final day, and stayed with the rest to seal his yellow jersey ahead of Fancellu in second and veteran Domenico Pozzevivo in third.
Sunday's final stage ensured both the day's honours and general classification remained in play with a route of 161 kilometers taking riders from Kromeriz to Pustevny. A 7.9 kilometer climb to the finish formed the day's major hurdle - with an average gradient of 6.7 percent.
The day settled into its rhythm early as Geoffrey Bocuhard was the big name among three attackers to form a breakaway less than 10 kilometers into the stage that also included Michal Schuran and Mats Wenzel. The trio were joined by Jakub Otruba and Fabrizio Crozzolo shortly after as the five riders set the day's pace.
Netcompany INEOS controlled the gap for August as it became clear the day's big climb would decide all. With 12 kilometers to go and the climbing to begin, their gap stood at just 40 seconds before the main event.
INEOS control gap as final climb set to decide race
With much of the general classification skirmishes confined to the final stages in recent days, the pace was high as the podium contenders sized up their chances on the climb. The breakaway soon split at the foot of the climb as Schuran dropped after securing the KOM jersey during the stage, while Wenzel and Bouchard tried to shake off the rest and keep the peloton at bay.
Bouchard soon left Wenzel behind as the duo remained out on front with six kilometers to go as INEOS contested Soudal Quick-step and Red Bull for control of the front of the reduced bunch. NSN soon drove the front to reel in Wenzel as Bouchard boasted a modest 10 seconds lead.
With the peloton rapidly shrinking, Bouchard's last stand was ended with 4 kilometers to go and the steepest slopes of the forest-surrounded climb to go. Stage 1 winner Riley Sheehan hit the front soon after as only around 15 riders remained at the front as Jack Haig policed matters at the front with Marco Frigo also high up for NSN's Jan Hirt ambitions.
Haig's high pace seemed to be fending off attacks as August rode towards the overall win as they passed the flamme rouge, marking just one kilometer to go. Haig swung off soon after as Embret Svestad-Bårdseng led out the leaders.
Alessandro Fancellu jumped out for an early sprint which almost ended in disaster as he accidentally unclipped from his pedal. August soon surged but the MBH Bank rider regained his momentum and was able to hold off the INEOS leader and seal his first-ever professional win.
Results Czech Tour 2026 Stage 4
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment