Jasch solos to Trento as Pellizzari carries the Melinda Green Jersey into the Bozen/Bolzano finale

On the day when the Tour of the Alps hosted and celebrated Olympic speed skaters Arianna Sighel and Andrea Giovannini in Trento, a former speed skater also stole the show on the road, treating himself to the finest day of his career in the shadow of the Dome of the Trentino capital. Lennart Jasch, racing in Tudor Pro Cycling colours, took up cycling in 2023 after an injury, and he hasn’t stopped pedalling since – until he claimed today, Thursday, April 23rd, his first pro win.

Stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps had everything, over the 167.8 km from Arco to Trento (3,900 metres of vertical gain): the long early climbs of Passo Bordala and Passo Redebus, and the roller-coaster of a classic-style finale, marked by a relentless sequence of kickers that kept the race uncertain to the very end.

Jasch built his win by going in the break on the Bordala climb with four other riders, then holding off in the finale the comeback attempt of Matteo Sobrero (Lidl–Trek) and Federico Iacomoni (Team UKYO), who finished second and third respectively under the Duomo of Trento. The two Italians had tried to bridge across, attacking from the Green Jersey’s group on the Povo descent, but without the result they had hoped for.

Italy confirms itself as favourable ground for the 25-year-old German, who last year had already picked up two wins in the U23 ranks at the Giro della Regione Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, taking both a stage and the overall.

Rounding out just off the day’s podium, Florian Stork (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), with the Dutchman ready to play his cards tomorrow for the overall win in Bozen/Bolzano. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe) confirmed himself as leader of the #TotA 2026, wearing the Melinda Green Jersey for the third consecutive day, shadowed by Arensman himself and by Colombia’s Egan Bernal, both at just 4 seconds.

Bernal also took two more seconds on Pellizzari, who will be able to count tomorrow on the support of team-mate Alexandr Vlasov, fourth at 6 seconds. The battle for the overall win, however, doesn’t look restricted to these four riders. The GC remains extremely tight: the top ten are packed within less than 30 seconds and anything can still happen, as it so often does in the final act on the Euregio roads between Tirol, Südtirol/Alto Adige and Trentino.

JASCH: “I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT”

“I still can’t believe it: it was simply an incredible day, a brutally hard one, and I feel really lucky. I knew right away I had great legs, so I tried to believe in it. It was tough all the way to the end: only when I turned right onto the final straight did I realise I had won my first pro race.”

“I was a speed skater until the end of 2023, then I had an injury that forced me into rehab. In that period I understood I was pretty fast on the bike, at least judging by the watts. Then I had a contact with the Bora development team, and they opened the doors of cycling for me. I enjoyed it right away, it was a lot of fun, even if I had to learn a huge amount. I think, though, that I’ve grown very quickly over the last two and a half years.”

“I remember last year, flying back from Mallorca with Giulio Pellizzari, we were talking about this very race, and he was telling me how incredibly demanding it was. Then I raced it for the first time and the weather wasn’t on my side: on stage 4 I completely collapsed and had to abandon. And now I’m here, again on stage 4, but this time I’ve won it. That shows just how much has changed in a year. For tomorrow I can’t reveal all our tactics, given that the leader is sitting right next to me, but obviously – even though I like Giulio – I hope the last word goes to someone from our team.”

PELLIZZARI: “I EXPECT GAPS TOMORROW, AND I HOPE I’LL BE THE ONE OPENING THEM”

“It was a really demanding day, with plenty of attacks right from the opening kilometres. On the Bordala we had to close several times, and I’m proud of the work my team-mates did. In the finale, when Pidcock tried to move, I felt good and decided to counter.”

“Tomorrow will certainly be a battle from the start, because everyone will try to put their last energy on the road. Of course, we’d be happy to let a break of non-GC riders go, but honestly I don’t think the race will be decided by bonuses in any case. The final climb is tough, and it will open gaps. In fact, I hope I’ll be the one opening them.”

TRENTO REWARDS JASCH’S COURAGE

The all-Trentino stage of the Tour of the Alps came to life from the very first kilometres, when on the climb up to Passo Bordala a move took shape featuring Jasch (Tudor Pro Cycling), Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious), Quinn (EF Education–EasyPost), Jensen (Jayco AlUla) and Raccani (Team UKYO). The leaders pushed their gap up to 3’40” on the Passo Redebus ascent, with Sean Quinn long virtual leader on GC. The American could at least console himself by cresting first at both Category 1 KOMs and taking the Gruppo Cassa Centrale Blue Jersey, symbol of the lead in the climbers’ classification.

On the Redebus ramps, Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe took matters in hand, progressively cutting down the break’s margin. Jasch tried to make the difference already near Brusago, but on the false-flat before the descent Jensen, Kepplinger and Raccani managed to get back to the German. The only one to crack was Quinn.

On the descent toward Baselga di Piné, Pinarello Q36.5 came alongside Red Bull at the front of the bunch, bringing the breakaway’s gap down to around a minute and a half. At that point, Jasch again proved the most brilliant on the climbs, pulling away on the ramps of the Sant’Agnese ascent.

Behind him, Raccani and Kepplinger tried to react, but were caught on the descent by Rodríguez (EF Education–EasyPost) and Jensen. The quartet fell apart on the Povo climb, when only Rodríguez and Jensen were left chasing the leader.

On the Povo ramps, Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling) tried to break the deadlock in the bunch. His acceleration triggered, 10 km from the line, the move of Giulio Pellizzari, to which Bernal, Arensman and Omrzel responded immediately. Pellizzari’s move was followed by a counter from team-mate Vlasov, who picked up 4 seconds of bonus at the Bonus Sprint, while Bernal took another 2 seconds.

On the following descent, O’Connor, Porter (Jayco AlUla), Sobrero (Lidl–Trek) and Iacomoni (Team UKYO) tried to break clear. The last two launched themselves in pursuit of Jasch, but the technical city section worked in the leader’s favour and he celebrated – in true speed-skater style – in the shadow of the Duomo of Trento.

Heading into the last act of the Tour of the Alps, starting in Trento and finishing in Bozen/Bolzano, Giulio Pellizzari keeps the Melinda Green Jersey as overall leader, paired with the FORST White Jersey as best young rider. Tom Pidcock retains the Caffè Bocca della Verità Red Jersey for the points classification, while Emanuel Zangerle (Team Vorarlberg) remains at the top of the special breakaway classification, wearing the e-VISO Giro Black Jersey.

THE LEADERS’ JERSEYS

Melinda Green Jersey – Overall Classification: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe)
Gruppo Cassa Centrale Blue Jersey – King of the Mountains Classification: Sean Quinn (EF Education–EasyPost)
Caffè Bocca della Verità Red Jersey – Points Classification: Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5)
FORST White Jersey – Best Young Rider Classification: Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe)
e-VISO Giro Special Jersey – Breakaway Classification: Emanuel Zangerle (Team Vorarlberg)

JENESIEN/SAN GENESIO DECISIVE IN THE TRENTO–BOZEN/BOLZANO STAGE. TOMORROW THE #TOTA REMEMBERS SARA PIFFER

The final stage, on Friday, April 24th, offers 128.6 km from Trento to Bozen/Bolzano: a short but tricky day, open to possible GC twists. After an opening marked by the climb of Palù di Giovo, with the intermediate sprint dedicated to Sara Piffer, the route continues along the Weinstraße/Strada del Vino to Kaltern/Caldaro, where the riders will tackle the ascent of Kalterer Hohe/Caldaro Alta (4.4 km at 6.6%).

With 50 km to go, the race will pass through the Bozen/Bolzano finish line for the first time, setting up an intense finale: the route climbs up to Jenesien/San Genesio into a 19 km circuit to be ridden twice, featuring the KOM of Nobls/Montoppio (9.2 km at 6.2%). After the final crest, a fast descent will bring the riders back to the Bozen/Bolzano finish, where the winner of the Tour of the Alps 2026 will be crowned. The Tour of the Alps will remember Sara Piffer also at the Trento start, with a safety ride dedicated to the memory of the rider from Palù di Giovo.

In Bozen/Bolzano, the #TotA will also welcome a visit from FC Südtirol: in Piazza del Tribunale, activities for children are planned along with an invitation to all supporters ahead of the important Serie B match-up in which the Südtirol side will face Mantova.

The capital of Südtirol/Alto Adige will also host the close of the Bike Experience, which this year is seeing cyclists take part in an exclusive three-day programme organised across Trentino and Südtirol/Alto Adige. Among the protagonists of these initiatives are also Daniele Bennati and Lukas Pöstlberger, ambassadors of the #TotA 2026.

THE TOUR OF THE ALPS ON TV

The final stage of the Tour of the Alps will be broadcast live from 13:30 to 15:30 CEST on Eurosport (Europe and Asia), HBO Max/Discovery+ and TNT Sports (UK), FloSports (US and Canada), X-Sports (Brazil), Rai (Italy and San Marino), ORF (Austria), L’Equipe TV (France, Monaco and Andorra), and Sports5 (Israel). Live streaming will also be available via the Age of Sports YouTube channel (Infront) in Africa, South America (excluding Brazil), Oceania, and parts of Asia, including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.