In the fourth stage of the 2024 Gree Tour of Guangxi UCI World Tour, held on October 18, Israel-Premier Tech's Ethan Vernon demonstrated his exceptional sprinting prowess once again, winning his second stage victory in the event with a distance of 176.8 kilometers.

Race Overview

The stage began and ended at the Shouxiang Cultural Square in Bama Yao Autonomous County and the Wensport Center in Hechi City, respectively. This stage featured two intermediate sprint points and four climbing points, making it the most challenging stage in terms of climbing in this year’s event. The climbs included two categorized as second category and two as third category, with an average gradient exceeding 6%.

The race kicked off at 10:30 AM with an opening ceremony in Bama Yao Autonomous County, attended by numerous officials and guests. Bama is renowned for its unique natural conditions and is the first place in China recognized as both a "World Longevity Town" and a "China Longevity Town," making it a significant destination for health tourism.

Race Highlights

The early part of the race was filled with tension as a four-man breakaway group quickly formed. Pepijn Reinderink, who had been part of a breakaway in the previous stage, once again took the lead and aggressively claimed first place at all four climbing points, scoring a total of 22 climbing points and rising to the top of the climbing classification with 28 points.

As the race progressed, the breakaway riders began to tire, and the peloton accelerated to catch up. The breakaway group was ultimately caught just two kilometers from the finish line.

In the final stretch, Ethan Vernon launched a powerful sprint, successfully securing the victory and celebrating his hard-earned win.

Post-Race Changes

Despite receiving a 20-second penalty for a mid-race infraction, Vernon retained the blue jersey, symbolizing the sprint leader. Max Kanter from Astana donned the red jersey for the overall classification leader, while Filip Maciejuk from Bora-Hansgrohe claimed the white jersey as the best young rider.

Upcoming Stages

Tomorrow will feature the fifth stage: Yizhou to Longla. This stage is a hallmark of the Gree Tour of Guangxi, as the first rider to reach its summit in previous years has always gone on to win the overall championship.

The riders will face the only first-category summit finish of the 2024 Gree Tour of Guangxi, with the final climb stretching 3.2 kilometers and featuring an average gradient of 6.3%. The last 1.2 kilometers will present an astonishing average gradient of 14.8%.

The decisive battle is upon us, and we can’t wait to see the exciting performances that await!