In the first approach with the mountains, Primož Roglič (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) snatched victory from Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) in the last breath and won the fourth stage of the Vuelta a España 2024. The stage was held between Plasencia and Pico Villuercas over a distance of 170.5 kilometers.
The first mountainous day was defined among the best climbers, which ended with the victory of the great favorite, Roglič, in a partial that enters the history of Spanish cycling for the great battle lived among the great favorites in the final phase.
Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) was the best Colombian in 18th place, 43 seconds behind, then Harold Tejada (Astan Qazaqstan) was 31st, while Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) was 34th, more than two minutes behind the winner.
The breakaway of the day was led by Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R), Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny), Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla), Pablo Castrillo (Kern Pharma) and Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel – Euskadi), but on the final climb they were all neutralized.
The first contact with the mountains left big changes in the general classification of the Spanish round. Among the favorites for the title, Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) was the best, which leaves him in a comfortable position, ahead of his rivals, who will have a hard time to win the title.
The Spanish round will continue this Wednesday with the fifth stage, starting in Fuente del Maestre and finishing in Seville, on a 177-kilometer route that has no categorized mountain prizes.
La Vuelta Ciclista a España (2.UWT)
Results Satge 4 | Plasencia – Pico Villuercas (170,5 km)
| 1 | ROGLIČ Primož | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | 4:26:49 |
| 2 | VAN EETVELT Lennert | Lotto Dstny | ,, |
| 3 | ALMEIDA João | UAE Team Emirates | ,, |
| 4 | MAS Enric | Movistar Team | ,, |
| 5 | GALL Felix | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | ,, |
| 6 | RICCITELLO Matthew | Israel – Premier Tech | ,, |
| 7 | LANDA Mikel | Soudal Quick-Step | ,, |
| 8 | TIBERI Antonio | Bahrain – Victorious | 0:18 |
| 9 | BENNETT George | Israel – Premier Tech | 0:28 |
| 10 | SIVAKOV Pavel | UAE Team Emirates | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | ROGLIČ Primož | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | 14:33:08 |
| 2 | ALMEIDA João | UAE Team Emirates | 0:08 |
| 3 | MAS Enric | Movistar Team | 0:32 |
| 4 | TIBERI Antonio | Bahrain – Victorious | 0:38 |
| 5 | VAN EETVELT Lennert | Lotto Dstny | 0:41 |
| 6 | GALL Felix | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 0:47 |
| 7 | MCNULTY Brandon | UAE Team Emirates | 0:50 |
| 8 | SKJELMOSE Mattias | Lidl – Trek | 0:58 |
| 9 | LANDA Mikel | Soudal Quick-Step | ,, |
| 10 | VLASOV Aleksandr | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | 1:00 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico