Primož Roglič edges sprint on Pico Villuercas to win stage 4 of Vuelta a España
Three-time Vuelta winner takes over the overall lead after beating Lennert van Eetvelt and João Almeida
![Primoz Roglic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zofr9jjeWqDTLf9zMsLmiF-415-80.jpg)
Primož Roglič won an uphill sprint at the summit of Pico Villuercas to win stage four of the Vuelta a España on Tuesday and take over the overall race lead from Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike).
The Slovenian was part of a six-man move that approached the finish line together. A move from Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) eventually split the group, before Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) launched a powerful sprint in response to Landa’s acceleration.
Roglič was straight onto the move from the young Belgian. A huge turn of speed from the Slovenian in the final two hundred metres ensured that he passed Van Eetvelt and stole the win on the line.
Van Eetvelt initially raised an arm in celebration thinking the victory was his, but then saw Roglič pass him on his left hand side.
Speaking afterwards, Roglič revealed that taking a stage win and the race lead this early on was never part of his team’s plan. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe set a furious pace on the front of the peloton for much of the day, seemingly looking to tee up their lead rider for the win, but Roglič said that was never the intention.
"It was not actually the main objective of today, but when you see our guys riding hard in this heat, I was happy that I could then finish it off," he said. "Nobody asked me [how I was feeling] if they did then I probably wouldn’t have said it, to go so hard and to control it for the victory, but I had no option."
On the eve of the Vuelta getting started in Portugal, Roglič admitted that a back injury, sustained during a crash at the Tour de France in July, was still causing him pain. But he showed no sign of any discomfort as he latched onto Van Eetvelt before taking yet another Vuelta stage win.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It was really tough. It was steep and like I said, for me coming back, I definitely felt my back there already after some hours of riding," he added, revealing that his back was still an issue. "But we’ll have to see, hopefully it doesn’t get worse, but the goal will stay the same, just to keep going day by day now."
Roglič now leads the general classification by eight seconds going into Wednesday's stage five.
How it happened
Stage four of the Vuelta was widely anticipated to be an early test for the GC contenders on the slopes of Pico Villuercas.
An early breakaway containing a handful of climbers got up the road, but began to fragment as the kilometres ticked by. With 35 kilometres left to race, Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Pablo Castrillo (Kern Pharma) were at the head of the race with a gap of 2:12 back to the main field.
Three riders were caught in no man’s land between the breakaway and the main field. They were former Italian national champion Filippo Zana (Jayco-AIUla), Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny).
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe were driving the pace on the front of the peloton and gradually cutting down the lead duo’s advantage. Visma-Lease a Bike were also involved at the head of the bunch, looking to keep Van Aert well placed as the finish gradually approached.
With 16 kilometres to go, the base of the climb to Pico Villuercas was rapidly approaching. Armirail and Castrillo still had an advantage of just under two minutes as they crossed the intermediate sprint point at Roturas. Red Bull were still leading the chase in the peloton, but UAE Emirates were beginning to move up with an eye towards the finish.
Armirail and Castrillo were finally caught with seven kilometres left to race. Pavel Sivakov, Jay Vine and Brandon McNulty put in a huge turn at the head of the bunch for UAE Emirates which eventually ended the lead duo’s dreams of a potential stage win. Sivakov pushed on as the gradients began to shoot up, but his move was quickly shut down by Red Bull and Primož Roglič.
Felix Gall (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was the next rider to attack, quickly building up a lead on the 18% slopes, but he was pulled back by a Roglič led trio. Enric Mas (Movistar) and Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) were also present.
With two kilometres to go the three leaders moved from the rougher asphalt onto a smoother section of road as they neared the summit. João Almeida (UAE Emirates), Gall and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) managed to make contact with the leaders.
The sight of Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) approaching forced the lead group to begin the sprint for the line. Riccitello was the first man to jump, before Gall then passed him with Roglič locked onto his wheel. Van Eetvelt then accelerated, but he was marked by Roglič. Nobody could match the Slovenian’s speed and he took the stage win on the line.
Results
Vuelta a España stage 4: Plasencia > Pico Villuercas (170km)
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull - Bora-Hansgrohe, in 4:26:49
2. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny
3. João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates
4. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar
5. Felix Gall (Aut) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
6. Matthew Riccitello (USA) Israel-Premier Tech
7. Mikel Landa (Esp) Soudal Quick-Step, all at same time
8. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +18s
9. George Bennett (NZl) Israel-Premier Tech, +28s
10. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Team Emirates, at same time
General classification after stage 4
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, in 14:33:08
2. João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates, +8s
3. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar, +32s
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +38s
5. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny, +41s
6. Felix Gall (Aut) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, +47s
7. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, +50s
8. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek, +58s
9. Mikel Landa (Esp) Soudal Quick-Step, at same time
10. Aleksandr Vlasov, Red Bull - Bora-Hansgrohe, +1:00
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered races elsewhere across the world.
As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and helps with coverage of UK domestic cycling.
-
Young British talent is better than ever, despite the domestic scene's struggles - what next?
Get ready for the next generation of British success, but can it last forever with a shrinking calendar?
By Adam Becket Published
-
19 things you didn't know about Paralympic cycling champion Oksana Masters
The American Paralympian has competed in 7 Paralympic Games in 3 very different sports and has won 19 medals.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Primož Roglič crowned Vuelta a España champion as Stefan Küng wins the final stage time trial
Küng flies around the course to win the final stage as Roglič seals a record-equalling fourth overall victory in Madrid
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Who won each classification at the Vuelta a España 2024?
The full general classification, along with the latest stage result, and the standings for the other jerseys
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Primož Roglič takes GC lead with solo mountain win on stage 19 of the Vuelta a España
The Slovenian was on imperious form on the Alto de Moncalvillo summit finish
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Urko Berrade wins solo from the breakaway on stage 18 of the Vuelta a España
Berrade grabs Equipo Kern Pharma’s third stage win at the Spanish team’s home Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Kaden Groves seals hat-trick with victory on stage 17 of the Vuelta a España
Australian stamps dominance in Wout van Aert's absence
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Pablo Castrillo claims mammoth stage 15 victory atop Cuitu Negru as O'Connor keeps red
Spaniard emerges victorious out of blanket fog in the Asturias as O'Connor retains red jersey despite Roglič attack
By Flo Clifford Published
-
Cian Uijtdebroeks withdraws from Vuelta a España with Covid-19
Young Belgian struggled early in the race but looked back to his best on Saturday's stage 14
By Flo Clifford Published
-
Kaden Groves beats Wout van Aert in two-up sprint on Vuelta a España stage 14
Visma-Lease a Bike controlled the action all day for Van Aert but the Belgian couldn't hold off Groves in Villablino
By Flo Clifford Published