Fernando Tercero is once again in front on the Goulier Neige climb and David Domínguez jumps into tenth a the Isard overall
45º Ronde de l’Isard
Stage 4: Carbonne – Goulier Neige (131 km)
This Saturday’s Ronde de l’Isard was a very tough day, the queen stage of this edition of the Ronde de l’Isard. At the arrival at the winter sports centre of Goulier-Neige, almost ten kilometres of climbing at an average gradient of 8%, Fernando Tercero made a new leap in the provisional general classification of the race after finishing third, immediately after the leader Johannes Staune-Mitter (Jumbo-Visma). The Norwegian defended himself perfectly against all attacks in a stage where his Irish team-mate Archie Ryan won. Third will face the last stage in eighth position, while David Domínguez, once again formidable, is tenth overall.
The day had all the ingredients for a great battle: a frenetic pace at the start, several teams interested in being represented at the front and several breakaway attempts that did not quite crystallise… and the prospect of three major climbs practically in a row. About twenty riders without representation of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team U23 were close to two minutes ahead, a situation in which the blue structure took the reins of the peloton to keep the advantage under some control. On the climb to La Crouzette, still with several exponents of the breakaway ahead, David Domínguez managed to reach the head of the race in the regrouping that took place after the descent and the first ramps of the long Port de Lers.
#RDLI2022. Llegada de Fernando Tercero a la meta de Goulier-Neige. El manchego, tercero de nuevo este sábado, ascendería a la octava plaza de la general @RondeIsard. Y David Domínguez, 12º hoy, sería 10º.
[📽️ @hectorangueira] #EOLOKOMETACyclingTeam #EquipoSub23 #Etapa4 pic.twitter.com/jrijfaVoTH— FundContadorTeam (@FundContaTeam) October 1, 2022
In Lers, a leading group of eight riders gathered, with a two-minute margin over a peloton that would unleash hostilities shortly afterwards. The result of this escalation of offensives was the genesis of a leading group that included leader Staune-Mittet with his team-mate Ryan, Groupama’s Lenny Martinez and Reuben Thompson, Trinity’s Oliver Rees, Mathys Rondel (Pays de Loudéac) and both David Dominguez and Fernando Tercero.
Thompson persevered in his offensives, going away with Staune-Mittet and Ryan, but with minimal differences. On the descent, Fernando Tercero caught up with them and a quartet was formed, then a quintet with the re-entry of Rondel, who would capitalise on the very hard climb between multiple attacks and regroupings. In the end, Ryan, near the finish, managed to ride solo to win the stage. Third, again third, he improved in an overall where David Domínguez also did the same, twelfth at the finish.
“We’ve come close again. We’ve been there for three stages now, just waiting for that last little step that will allow us to win. That’s our objective, we’re not so focused on the overall. After the first stage and the breakaway’s advantage, it was clear to us that the overall was practically impossible. The leader is also proving to be unbeatable and his team is strong. Today he proved it again. Tomorrow we have another good opportunity ahead of us to fight for the objective”, says Fernando Tercero. “Let’s see if we can stay in the top 10, it would be very nice for me personally and luckily we have good legs. We enjoy this type of races much more, with the level that there is and being close to the best”, values David Domínguez.
The Ronde de l’Isard 2022 concludes this Sunday with one of the most strategically challenging mountain stages, with the climbs of Lers, Agnes and Latrape on the route to Saint-Girons. Pablo Uría, who withdrew on Saturday during the fourth stage, will not be taking part.
