Mauro Schmid sprinted to his third second place of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in another fast finish to stage four.
The result sees the Swiss champion drop to second overall in the general classification, but the 26-year-old sits just two-seconds behind the new race leader with one final, decisive stage remaining.
Team Jayco AlUla took on the pace setting duties on the fourth stage of racing as they looked after GC leader Schmid. The Australian squad kept a small breakaway in check throughout the stage, with the escapees comfortably swept up by the bunch ahead of the final circuit in Valdobbiadene.
A flurry of attacks were then neutralised in the closing kilometres as the day came down to another sprint finish. Schmid once again showed his speed to run second behind stage one winner Axel Laurance, who now takes over the race lead heading into the final stage, with Schmid sitting just two-seconds behind.
Mauro Schmid:
“Overall, I’m happy I made it through the stage. I wasn’t really thinking this stage would suit me super well. So, in the end I think another second is pretty good.
Of course, it’s a little bit frustrating to be three times second, but in the end I’m still in a good situation for the GC. I think tomorrow’s stage is the one that suits me the best out for the five stages, and we have a really strong team.
I hope we can race aggressive and go for the GC. We have some cards to play with Alessandro [Covi] and Alan [Hatherly], so that’s a nice situation and we can have some fun tomorrow and hopefully one of us can bring it home in the end.”
2026 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali – Stage 4 Results:
1. Axel Laurance 3:38:25
2. Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) ST
3. Riccardo Lorello ST
2026 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali – GC
1. Axel Laurance 15:00:34
2. Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) +0:02
3. Tomasso Dati +0:10
Photo: Sprint Cycling
