The South African sprinted ahead of Australian Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco) and Dane Soren Kragh Andersen (DSM). Briton Stephen Williams (Bahrain-Williams) retained the yellow jersey A trio, made up of Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin-Fenix), Briton Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) and Norwegian Markus Hoelgaard (Trek-Segafredo), formed after a fifteen kilometers. Their lead was approaching 5 minutes.
The breakaway adventure ended at the foot of the Sattel hill (3.8 km at 7.6%) placed 18 km from the finish. In difficulty, the yellow jersey of Stephen Williams clung and returned to the first peloton shortly after. For his part, Remco Evenepoel was attentive in the climb, not leaving the first 10 positions. Once the side was crossed, the Brabnçon stayed warm from the still large group.
In the sprint, Dary Impey resisted the return of Michael Matthews and signed, at 37, the 30th success of his career. Soren Kragh Andersen completed the day’s podium ahead of Italian Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) and Briton Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenardiers).
Overall, Williams leads the Dane Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal) by 6 seconds and the Briton Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) and the Norwegian Andreas Leknessund (DSM) by 7 seconds.
Thursday, the 5th stage will lead the peloton on a relatively less hilly profile of 190.1km between Ambri and Novazzano.
Richard Carapaz, absent this year, won the 2021 edition of the Tour de Suisse which will end this year in Vaduz in Liechtenstein on Sunday.