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Mountain Time in Gabon – Nikodemus Holler second in General Classification

Thursday, Jan 18, 2018 in Pro Cycling

With the fourth stage in Gabon, the time of the sprinter was interrupted and it was about the overall standings on a topographically demanding stage from Ndjolé to Mitzic 182km.

After the great success on the first stage by Lucas Carstensen, the team was able to defend the overall lead on the second stage. Only on the third stage did Lucas Carstensen lose the lead jersey by just one second.

The tactical situation was so much better for the hardest stage of the tour, as the responsibility lay with the French Pro Continental Team "Delko Marseille Provence KTM". At tropical temperatures through the jungle a very exhausting task.

After 160km up and down, the biggest uphills were on the program and and with it many possibilities for the climbers of BIKE AID. A four-member high-caliber top group should decide the race at the end, with Nikodemus Holler in.  

Stage winner was Joseph Areruya from Rwanda, who won the Tour de Rwanda and a stage of the Baby Giro last season. A great success for the African rider, who took Vuelta and Giro participant Ilia Koshevoy from Italian Pro Continental Team "Wilier Triestina" in second place.

Nine seconds later, Nikodemus Holler crossed the finish line in third. Unfortunate fourth became the Frenchman Damien Goudin of "Direct Energie". He also is not a unknown rider with Grand Tour participations in Tour, Giro and Vuelta as well as a victory in the prologue at Paris - Nice 2013.

The four riders put the field under pressure until it seemed to give up. Because at the finish was a lead of 7: 42min on the clock, so that Brenton Jones lost his lead jersey and the overall victory can probably only run on the four riders. This situation also benefited Lucas Carstensen, who was able to reach the finish in the peloton and only lost time to the four leaders. He is still in a good position in 6th place, with which BIKE AID was again able to take the lead in the team ranking.

With just 11 seconds behind Areruya, Nikodemus Holler is now in second place overall, which promises a lot of excitement for the next 3 stages.