Race in Tour de Wallonie's fourth stage concludes with Mathias Vacek taking the victory, following a day of intense Ardennes Classic racing competition.
The Tour de Wallonie, a five-day race held in the Wallonia region of Belgium, is often referred to as a "mini Liege-Bastogne-Liege" due to its hilly terrain and Ardennes-like characteristics. This year's edition, held from July 26 to July 30, featured stages that suit strong climbers and puncheurs, making it an ideal preparation race for riders targeting the Ardennes Classics.
The fourth stage, a 163.3 km route from Welkenraedt to Seraing, included around 2,500 vertical meters of climbing and was won by Mathias Vacek in a sprint from a small group. The stage was challenging, featuring climbs like the Col du Rosier, the Cote de la Redoute, and the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons.
Vacek's victory was set up by his team, Lidl-Trek, who controlled the pace of the race. His win moved him to one second behind Corbin Strong in the General Classification (GC). Strong, along with Carlos Canal and Natnael Tesfatsion, were also part of the winning group.
In the earlier part of the stage, Vlad Van Mechelen and Tom Donnenwirth formed the early break. However, they were eventually reeled in by the peloton.
Vancek, who is planning to go all-in for the final stage tomorrow, expressed optimism for his chances, stating that he hopes to recover well and go for another win. If he doesn't win the GC, Vancek is still happy with his performance and the team's efforts.
Corbin Strong took the leader's yellow jersey by a single second ahead of Vacek. The small group descended towards Seraing after the final climb, setting the stage for an exciting final sprint.
Mathias Vacek received a ten-second time bonus for his stage win, hurting his rivals in the peloton. In the late intermediate sprint bonus, Corbin Strong took two seconds, further solidifying his position in the GC.
The Tour de Wallonie is an important race for riders looking to prepare for the Ardennes Classics. Its mix of rolling hills, multiple categorized climbs, and finishes in towns like Seraing resembles a compact Ardennes classic, demanding both climbing prowess and solid all-round ability.
References: [1] Cyclingnews. (2025). Tour de Wallonie 2025: Stage 4 highlights. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie/2025/stage-4/results/
[2] Procyclingstats.com. (2025). Tour de Wallonie 2025 - Stage 4. [online] Available at: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-wallonie/2025/stage-4
[3] Velonews. (2025). Vacek wins stage 4 of the Tour de Wallonie. [online] Available at: https://velonews.com/news/racing/vacek-wins-stage-4-of-the-tour-de-wallonie/
[4] Cycling Weekly. (2025). Tour de Wallonie 2025: Corbin Strong takes yellow jersey after stage 4. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-wallonie-2025-corbin-strong-takes-yellow-jersey-after-stage-4-373067
[5] CyclingTips. (2025). Tour de Wallonie 2025: A condensed Ardennes classic. [online] Available at: https://cyclingtips.com/2025/07/tour-de-wallonie-2025-a-condensed-ardennes-classic/
The fifth stage of the Tour de Wallonie, much like the Ardennes Classics, promises to be a challenging affair with its hilly terrain, making it an ideal test for strong climbers and puncheurs. Mathias Vacek's victory in the previous stage, which included climbs like the Col du Rosier and the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons, showcases the significance of sports like cycling in preparing for such races.
