Romy shines in the break

Stage 4 was the longest stage in this year’s Tour de France. Between Cahors and Rodez the peloton had to do 177,1 kilometers which was over four and half hours on the bike. Quite early in the stage a large breakaway went up the road. Romy Kasper represented the AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step team. When caught she even had some energy left to make sure Ashleigh Moolman Pasio maintains her third sport in the general classification. It also means another day in green for the South African.

“The break went after the first climb, really early in the stage. I was in a good position. There were three riders at the front and I jumped across. It was a perfect situation,” said Romy. “It was hard at the beginning because they didn’t want to let us go straight away. When it was one minute it went up really fast. I was happy to be there and not in the bunch chasing this group down,” she smiles.

“The pace on the climbs was pretty steady so I could survive them. At onepoint Servais told me that Ashleigh lost some meters on Annemiek and Demi. I stopped immediately and waited for her. It was at nine kilometers to go. I put all the energy I had left to get Ashleigh back in good position and that was my day.”

Ashleigh was grateful as ever with the support of her teammates.

“Romy did a great job in the breakaway,” said Ashleigh. “When there was a little gap on the climb in the final, like magic Romy was there to close it for me. It was a very exciting finish and my team were brilliant again. I can’t thank them enough.”

The fifth stage on Thursday takes the riders from Onet-le-Chateau to Albi in the Pyrenees. There will be more climbing as the battle for the general classification heats up. Ashleigh still sits in third position and is confident for the second half of the race.