Vuelta a España Stage Report: On a scorching, first mountain stage of the 2024 Vuelta a España, Primoz Roglič (Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) pushed his wheel throughout the end line first. The Slovenian beat Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) in a spectacular finale, by a wheel. The ultimate climb additionally confirmed the type of the opposite GC males: Final yr’s winner, Sepp Kuss, Richard Carapaz and Adam Yates have been all lacking from the entrance group.
The ultimate kilometre of stage 4
Vuelta race director, Fernando Escartín: “The version’s first mountain stage consists of 167 km and consists of 4 point-incurring mountain passes. It will likely be sophisticated proper from the beginning, with a Class 2 climb and Alto de Piornal (Class 1) throughout the first 50 km. The escape would be the star of those first climbs previous to the finale at Pico Villuercas, with 3 km happening on cement ramps with inclinations of between 15-16%.”
Stage 4 profile
Stage 4: The primary mountain stage within the 2024 Vuelta is on Tuesday twentieth of August, when the GC riders will battle it out on the Pico Pitolero for the purple jersey and valuable seconds. The 167 kilometre stage from Plasencia to Pico Pitolero is the primary stage in Spain and is tough proper from the beginning, because the riders need to climb the Puerto de Cabezabellosa (Cat.2). After a brief descent, the subsequent climb, the Alto de Piornal (Cat.2) comes instantly. After a straightforward center part, the peloton climbs the Pico Pitolero for the primary time in la Vuelta. It’s 13.8 kilometres lengthy and has a median gradient of seven%, however within the final 4 kilometres, the gradient is 10% or extra and the street floor is tough concrete. The utmost gradients go as much as 20%. This could form the GC for the remainder of the race.
There may be some adjustments within the jersey wearers on the finish of the day
The stage profile didn’t put Joshua Tarling, Mauro Schmid and Lorenzo Germani from making an early assault. This escape try didn’t final lengthy and a second transfer from Bruno Armirail and Dylan Teuns, and others, was additionally unsuccessful. These riders didn’t surrender and Bruno Armirail went once more. This time, the Decathlon AG2R rider was joined by Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny), Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla), Pablo Castrillo (Kern Pharma) and Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The peloton chased for some time, however finally let the group take 3 minutes.
The beginning of a tough day
On the prime of the Puerto de Cabezabellosa, the primary climb of the day, Moniquet took the KOM factors. On the descent there was a crash within the peloton involving two INEOS Grenadiers riders. Laurens De Plus and Óscar Rodríguez hit the street, however they have been rapidly again on their bikes and returned to the peloton. The 5 leaders had began the subsequent climb, the Alto de Piornal, the place Remco Evenepoel and Enric Mas fought it out in 2022. This time, the racing was extra subdued. Moniquet gained the dash for the KOM factors once more and took the lead from Luis Angel Maté. The lead of the break was holding at simply over 3 minutes, which put Armirail within the digital purple jersey.
The primary full stage in Spain was going to be hilly
The peloton was not letting the Armirail get too distant, as Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe will need to have been on the lookout for the stage win. The German crew most likely had the highest favorite with Primoz Roglič and they also took management of the chase. The lead shrank, which didn’t go well with Armirail. The Frenchman determined to push arduous after the Puerto de Miravete, the place he was the primary excessive.
The riders have been extra taken with getting the break as we speak
This was an excessive amount of for Moniquet, Bizkarra and Zana, however the younger Castrillo was in a position to catch onto the Frenchman’s wheel. Armirail and Castrillo labored properly collectively to the ultimate climb, the Pico Villuercas and the distinction elevated once more. Though on the foot of the 14 kilometre ultimate climb, the lead was only one:30.
The peloton took the early climbs of their stride
Simply earlier than the ultimate climb, there was a battle for the factors classification and a combat between Van Aert and Kaden Groves. The Australian got here out on prime and Groves gained some factors on the Belgian chief. On the primary sections of the climb Groves needed to let go of the peloton. Van Aert wasn’t lengthy in doing the identical, with a view to the dash stage on Wednesday.
Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) made it into the break
After the primary choice within the peloton, we didn’t have to attend lengthy for the true spectacle between the GC males. The nervousness within the group elevated, understanding that within the final 5 kilometres there could be ramps of as much as 20%. Armirail and Castrillo have been the primary to start out the steep street, however have been caught nearly instantly.
Had been Visma | Lease a Bike driving to maintain the purple jersey? The ultimate climb will inform
It was Pavel Sivakov who was the primary to make a transfer, however Roglič and Enric Mas have been shut. The Slovenian, who had doubts about his possibilities of successful the Vuelta earlier than the beginning, clearly felt good and took command of the group of favourites, which had thinned out significantly. Roglič’s tempo was quick, however not quick sufficient for Felix Gall. The Austrian of Decathlon AG2R jumped and created hole.
The GC males have been ready for the ultimate climb
Three riders have been in a position to bridge to Gall: Roglič, Mas and the younger Belgian, Lennert Van Eetvelt. Gall paid for his efforts and misplaced floor. Final yr’s winner; Sepp Kuss, Thymen Arensman, Adam Yates, Richard Carapaz and Mikel Landa, appeared to be in hassle, they’d lose a number of time… besides Landa.
May the break go all the best way? In all probability not
Roglič, Mas and Van Eetvelt have been evenly matched, however they began to have a look at one another. This gave Joao Almeida, Matthew Riccitello and Gall the chance to return. Even Mikel Landa managed to return from the behind within the much less steep ultimate kilometres. Landa noticed his probability to strive a shock assault in the previous few hundred metres.
Then there have been two – Castrillo and Armirail
Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rode arduous to the bottom of the climb
It Van Eetvelt who countered the Spaniard and rode again to Landa after which was the primary to start out the dash. The Belgian appeared to be on his method to victory, however Roglic was on his wheel. The Slovenian as soon as once more proved to have the most effective timing and managed to catch Van Eetvelt within the final metres. The Slovenian scores a double win, as he additionally took the chief’s jersey from Van Aert.
The win went to Primoz Roglič from younger Lennert Van Eetvelt
Stage winner and total chief, Primoz Roglič (Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): “The stage win was not truly the primary goal as we speak however after I see the fellows driving so arduous on this warmth, I’m joyful to complete it off. I didn’t ask them to do this and no one requested me both! In the event that they’d requested me, I most likely would have instructed them to not go so arduous and to regulate for the victory. I had no possibility. It was robust, steep, and I felt my again a bit after some hours. Hopefully it doesn’t go worse. The thought is identical, to maintain going day-to-day. I at all times say it: you by no means know when it is going to be your final victory so I simply take pleasure in it. It’s life, there are challenges and I’m simply actually joyful, particularly with the best way the crew was working.”
The primary Vuelta purple jersey in 2024 for Primoz Roglič
# Hold it PEZ for all of the Vuelta a España stage motion. #
Vuelta a España Stage 4 Outcome:
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 4:26:49
2. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny
3. João Almeida (Por) UAE Staff Emirates
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
5. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
6. Matthew Riccitello (USA) Israel-Premier Tech
7. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step
8. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious at 0:18
9. George Bennett (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech at 0:28
10. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Staff Emirates.
Vuelta a España Total After Stage 4:
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 14:33:08
2. João Almeida (Por) UAE Staff Emirates at 0:08
3. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 0:32
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious at 0:38
5. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 0:41
6. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 0:47
7. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Staff Emirates at 0:50
8. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 0:58
9. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step
10. Aleksander Vlasov (-) Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 1:00.
Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly publication to obtain updates and reminders on what’s cool in street biking?
