Letizia Paternoster continued her streak of strong sprint performances with a super third place on stage four of La Vuelta Femenina.
The Italian made it three top-10 finishes in three stages on the spin after fighting over the climbs to contest another fast finale on tough stage in Galicia.
The fourth day of racing had been touted as a potential one for the breakaway and Liv AlUla Jayco were amongst the early attacks with Josie Talbot. In the end four riders did manage to escape, with the last two escapees forcing the peloton into a hard chase in the closing kilometres.
With the breakaway caught, the bunch battled for position with Paternoster right in the mix ahead of the tricky final kilometre. The 26-year-old swept around the last corner in fourth wheel, poised and ready to launch her kick.
In the drag race to the line Paternoster was unable to overhaul eventual winner Lotte Kopecky, eventually taking third place as she threw her bike for the line.
The result makes it four top-10 finishes in the first four stages for Liv AlUla Jayco after Monica Trinca Colonel took 8th on stage one.
Letizia Paternoster:
“Third place and back on the podium in the Vuelta. We started the day hoping for a win and we worked for that in the last 20km. I wanted to finish it off, but Lotte Kopecky was too strong and in the end, I was third.
Tomorrow is another opportunity. I think I have been really solid during the first part of the Vuelta with three top 10s in a row, and I am proud of myself.”
La Vuelta Femenina – Stage 4 Results:
1. Lotte Kopecky 3:07:11
2. Anna van der Breggen
3. Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco) ST
