May 13, 2014 (Bari, Italy) – Today’s 112km stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia from Giovinazzo to Bari was neutralized for the finishing circuit due to rider concerns about safety on the final city centre lap. Rain had made the road surface incredibly slippery, and despite the neutralization, riders still went down in the final corners.
Times for the GC were locked in one lap and 8.3km from the finish as part of the neutralization, which sees Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge remain in pink, while teammate Svein Tuft (Can) Orica Greenedge sits in sixth overall.
Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ.fr took the sprint win, Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing was second, and Tom Veelers (Ned) Giant-Shimano third.
Meanwhile, Giant Shimano’s Marcel Kittel (Ger) made the call to withdraw from the Giro before the start of the stage, due to a fever as he is suffering from illness.
“I am very disappointed about leaving the Giro after such a strong start in good condition, but I do not feel healthy and I am not in the position to start the race in this condition. I want to thank my team for their support these past few days and wish them the best of luck for the rest of the race,” said Kittel in a team release.
Results
1. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ.fr
2. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek Factory Racing
3. Tom Veelers (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
4. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida
5. Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale
6. Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
7. Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto Belisol
8. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Giant-Shimano
9. Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-Shimano
10. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Neri Sottoli – Yellow Fluo
GC after Stage 4
1. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 12:28:43
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:08
3. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:10
4. Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:14
5. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Orica-GreenEdge
6. Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:19
9. Pieter Serry (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
10. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team