After three successive sprint stages, the complexion of the Colombia Oro y Paz changed on Friday with the summit finish at El Tambo. Julian Alaphilippe (Quic-Step Floors) surged clear in the final 100 metres to take stage honours but behind him Sergio Henao finished second and Egan Bernal sixth to give Team Sky perhaps the strongest hand in what’s left of the race.
Henao, who became Colombian national champion for a second straight year last weekend, launched one of the first meaningful attacks towards the end of the 5km final climb but the gradient was not sufficient to drop Alaphilippe, who was convincing in the final dash to the line.
Bernal, part of a familiar Team Sky train that led the way up the climb, finished three seconds back on Alaphilippe, Henao, and Nairo Quintana (Movistar). After bonus seconds are taken into account, Alaphilippe leads the overall, with Henao second at four seconds and Quintana third at six seconds, while Bernal is 13 seconds back along with Rigoberto Urán, Ivan Sosa (Androni) and Jhonathan Narvaez (Quick-Step Floors).
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“It was a good day for us. Sergio was second, I was sixth, so now we’re in a good position on the general classification,” said Bernal.
“We took responsibility today. Other teams helped, but we controlled the race. The team is looking strong so we’re looking forward to doing the same again tomorrow. As far as I’m concerned, I’m feeling good, I’m in good condition here.”
Bernal pulled on the white jersey for best young rider, but insisted the only jersey that matters is the pink of overall leader – “either for Sergio or for myself.”
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