February 9 is the national ‘day of the journalist’ in Colombia. It may be hard to believe – and there were some dubious reactions to the information in the international press van at the Oro y Paz race on Friday morning – but the media are very much celebrated here.
You only have to look at ESPN bike presenter Mario Sabato, who is more of a hit with fans here than most local riders. A couple of hours after Sabato made his way up the final ramp to the finish line atop El Tambo, stopping for hundreds of selfies, Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) came tearing up to take victory on stage 4.
After three wins in as many days for sprinter Fernando Gaviria, the Colombians were finally able to see their hallowed climbers in action but the 5km ascent of El Tumbo would prove better suited to the explosive kick of Alaphilippe.
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Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and Rigoberto Urán (EF-Drapac) both attacked as the peloton thinned in the final couple of kilometres but Alaphilippe bided his time and broke free with ease in the final 100 metres. Henao was second and Quintana third, with Urán, Jhonathan Narvaez (Quick-Step Floors), Egan Bernal (Sky), and Ivan Sosa (Androni) coming in three seconds behind. Those riders are now the primary candidates for the overall title when the race concludes atop Manizales on Sunday.
Aside from Alaphilippe’s promising early-season form and Quick-Step’s 100 per cent record at the race so far, the day of the journalist was a day when the scale of the media operation here – and by extension the magnitude of this event – was thrown into stark relief.
“Is this the biggest win of your career?” was one of the first questions thrown the way of the Frenchman in the media mixed zone at the finish line. And it wasn’t thrown without a struggle. As the various reporters scrambled and shouted over each other to ask their question, Quick-Step’s press officer had to step in and say ‘woah, one at a time’.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Race Results http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/colombia-oro-y-paz-2018/stage-4/results
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