Polartec-Kometa’s hopes for the Clunia finish in a bitter crash

40ª Vuelta Ciclista a Burgos
Stage 4: San Pedro Cardeña Monastery – Clunia (165 km)

The Vuelta a Burgos completed its fourth stage with victory for Carlos Barbero (Movistar) from Burgos and some bitterness in the heart of the Polartec-Kometa due to a fall within the last kilometre that caused not sprint for Matteo Moschetti, for whom he had done a great job in the previous kilometres. Juan Pedro López suffered that crash. The application of the last three kilometres rule by the jury reduced the loss of time. Colombia’s Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) remains at the forefront of the general classification.

“Today Matteo was locked up and couldn’t move forward. Just as the other day he did find the hole where it didn’t look like it would fit, he passed by and won, today it hasn’t been possible. But hey, this is a race. The important thing is the attitude of the team, which is seen to play to win, run like a big team. It’s all about attitude. And with that attitude the results always end up coming,” explains director Jesús Hernández.

Five on the break, no Polartec-Kometa man present, opened the race for more than 150 kilometres in a development similar to that of the first two days: a spoiled early breakaway, with incomes never really worrying and progressive preparations for a massive arrival within the pack. When the escape was caught within the last ten kilometres, the Polartec-Kometa got involved in the preparations for the massive arrival, with five of its riders leading a platoon that was flying towards the final repecho at 65 km/h.

At the finish, and after the crash and the cuts, Matteo Moschetti and Alejandro Ropero would enter the finish line in 50th and 51st positions, respectively. Juan Pedro Lopez, who ended up with some scratches and discomfort in one of his knees, is still in the twenty-fourth place overall.

The Vuelta a Burgos closes this Saturday with the traditional arrival to the Lagunas de Neila. A short stage, 141 km, starting in Salas de los Infantes and several points ports before the final ascent to this iconic climb of the Sistema Ibérico with maximum ramps of 17% in its final part.

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)