Remco Evenepoel transfers the pink jersey to Norway’s Leknessund | Giro d’Italia 2023

The Giro’s fourth stage declared itself three poles in the second category as bacon for adventurers. The desire to be in secession was also prompted by the vacancy of Remco Evenepoel for the successor to the maglia rosa.

Evenepoel’s call worked like a red rag for Thor, and so the track had a stormy start. After a barrage of attacks, the foot in the accelerating peloton finally took off. A signal to a group including Andreas Leknesund, Thomas Scoggins and Aurelin Barrett-Painter to take a break.

Soudal-Quick Step thought it was enough and gave the seven fugitives safe conduct. With Leknessund, the rider Evenepoel had the dream to part with his leader’s pink jersey. In principle, the Norwegian has no rating ambitions. Guy Vine does, but is nearly able to throw away those ambitions after an accident with his support car.

When Leknessund unleashed his demons on the final climb, only Paret-Peintre could join his bandwagon. The latter even seemed to break for a while, but fought back at the Norwegian’s track on the less steep section.

In the background it was Ineos Grenadiers who quickened the pace, perhaps to thwart Evenepoel’s rosy plan. However, he stayed with the barking, as it hadn’t happened to the real attacks.

In the race, the two remaining escapees graciously split the prizes. Paret-Peintre scored the best victory of his career and Leknessund became the second Norwegian ever, after Knut Knudsen in 1981, to wear the pink jersey. Toms Skujins finished third and only on the podium with a face print.