Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) claimed the final stage of the Tour of the Alps, out-sprinting Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) after a dramatic day of racing.
Thomas, who took the lead on stage 3 after winning in Funes, was left isolated on the two final climbs of stage as Pinot, Pozzovivo and Michele Scarponi (Astana) sensed blood. A fine ride from Mikel Landa (Team Sky), however, helped to protect Thomas. The Basque rider, who will co-lead Team Sky alongside Thomas in the Giro d'Italia next month, shut down a number of moves before driving the front group towards the final climb inside the last 10 kilometres.
A surge from Scarponi split the front group with 7.5 kilometres to go and saw Landa finally lose contact but when Pozzovivo jumped on the pedals moments later only Thomas and then Pinot could follow. Scarponi and then a number of other riders made contact on the descent but with bonus seconds up for grabs at the finish the overall title wasn't sealed until the sprint for the line.
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Pinot would have to win the stage and also distance Thomas in order to take the title, and the Frenchman took up the reigns with 200 metres to go. Bookwalter was wise to the move and Thomas latched on too, and although the FDJ leader took the stage, Thomas did enough to ensure he kept the leader's jersey.
In the battle for the white young riders jersey, Egan Bernal (Androni Giocattoli) did more then enough to overcome a 17 deficit to Hugh Carthy (Cannondale-Drapac). The American team – as well as BMC Racing – had come under pressure after pulling riders out of the race in order to rest for Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liège, and Carthy was dropped on the penultimate climb as Bernal attacked. The Colombian had a gap at the top of the Monte Bondone but was caught by the GC leaders on the rapid descent. Still, it was enough for the highly talented rider to pull on white at the end of the stage. Unlike Thomas, Landa and Pinot, Bernal will not be at the Giro d'Italia next month but his progression continues to be monitored closely with Team Sky and Movistar both in the running to sign him for 2018.
How it unfolded
With the top steps on the podium separated by seconds, the final stage of the race was always likely to come down to a battle to the line between the GC contenders. An early break containing Ben Gastauer (AG2R La Mondiale), Sergei Chernetski (Astana Pro Team), Joey Rosskopf (BMC Racing Team), Steve Morabito (FDJ), Francesco Gavazzi (Androni Giocattoli), Nicola Bagioli (Nippo - Vini Fantini), Daniel Martinez (Wilier Triestina), Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Sangemini - Mg. K Vis) and Paolo Totò (Sangemini - Mg. K Vis) built up a lead that peaked at around four minutes.
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