Santiago Buitrago flies to victory on stage four of Paris-Nice as Luke Plapp claims yellow
Mont Brouilly could prove decisive in overall battle in the Race to the Sun


Santiago Buitrago flew to victory on stage four of Paris-Nice, as the Bahrain-Victorious rider attacked from a late move to triumph on Mont Brouilly.
His companion in the winning move, Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla), could not hang on on the final climb, but did take the yellow jersey, a good consolation prize.
There was little to separate the other general classification hopefuls, but the top ten has now been reshaped as a result of UAE Team Emirates' four star riders losing time.
Plapp powered off the front with 25km to go, accompanied by Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), who unwittingly kickstarted the winning move of the day, meaning his team leader Remco Evenepoel could not claim it.
He was then joined by Buitrago with 22km, at which stage the pair had just 10 seconds on the group of leaders, with there not really being much of a peloton to speak of anymore.
However, working together, the pair were able to contest the final climb of Mont Brouilly for victory, with Buitrago leaving Plapp behind with just over a kilometre to go. Plapp hung on to claim enough time on previous leader Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), to take the yellow jersey.
After the pair had crossed the line, the other GC hopefuls were left to battle it out, but with little time gained or lost. Evenepoel attempted to claim some bonus seconds, but was outsprinted by Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek). Evenepoel sits in fifth, 30 seconds behind Plapp now, after he also gained six bonus seconds on the intermediate sprint.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The other pre-race favourite, Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe), is in 15th, 1-10 down.
Evenepoel described the day as "very good" post-stage.
"I thought I was third, then I was shown that Plapp was still in front," the Belgian said. "I thought I took seconds on the line, but it’s not a big thing. I think it was overall a good stage for us.
"The tactics of UAE were a bit strange, to let the guy go all of a sudden, especially if you have four guys in the classification. In the end, Vine stopped riding, which was unfortunate for all of us, and all of the GC guys that Buitrago and Plapp, two dangerous guys, could stay away. Overall, [it was] a very good day for us."
"Luke is 30 ahead, which is not a nice present to go into the final weekend with," he continued. "Two good climbers [up there], in good shape. We’re going to have to sit down and have a good think about the tactics, and hopefully some other teams don’t let them go again. I don’t want to blame anybody, it was just a bit unfortunate for two guys to take 40 seconds out of nowhere."
"I didn't really expect it today..." a smiling Buitrago said post-stage. "You never know how things are going to come out in the wash, but I'm really happy. Winning here is amazing for me."
The win was the Colombian's first of 2024, and the first on French soil. Meanwhile, it was Plapp's second time in a WorldTour leader's jersey, after the UAE Tour last year, but his first since moving to Jayco AlUla.
RESULTS: Paris-Nice stage four, Chalon-sur-Saône > Mont Brouilly (183km)
1. Santiago Buitrago (Col) Bahrain-Victorious, in 4:25:52
2. Luke Plapp (Aus) Jayco AlUla, +10s
3. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek, +37s
4. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, s.t.
5. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, +39s
6. Felix Gall (Aut) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
7. Primož Roglič (Slo) Bora-Hansgrohe
8. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, all s.t.
9. Harold Tejada (Col) Astana-Qazaqstan, +43s
10. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, +46s
General classification after stage four
1. Luke Plapp (Aus) Jayco AlUla, in 13:15:04
2. Santiago Buitrago (Col) Bahrain-Victorious, +13s
3. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, +27s
4. João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates, +29s
5. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, +30s
6. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, +40s
7. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla, +46s
8. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, +52s
9. Rigoberto Urán (Col) EF Education-EasyPost, +54s
10. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa) Ineos Grenadiers, +1:02
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW in 2021 he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to riding bikes.
-
Garmin releases new paid-for version of Connect to rival Strava, but promises free version 'is not going away'
Tech Giant wants its popular app to be more than just a Strava go-between
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Van Rysel's RCR-F finally launches and it's no longer the cheap option
Van Rysel wants more of your money, but promises aero gains and a premium retail experience.
By Joe Baker Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard out of Volta a Catalunya after Paris-Nice crash
Visma-Lease a Bike say two-time Tour de France winner needs more time to recover from wrist injury sustained in France last week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson aiming to 'set the bar higher' and target a Grand Tour after securing second Paris-Nice title
American explained that targeting a win in one of the sport's biggest three-week races was now the logical next step in his career
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson rules out Tour de France leadership after Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal from Paris-Nice
The American is on the cusp of a second consecutive victory at the Race to the Sun
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mattias Skjelmose: 'Cycling is a relentless sport. One day you feel great, the next everything can change in a split second'
Lidl-Trek rider was forced to abandon Paris-Nice after a heavy crash on stage seven
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
'A tough day' - Mads Pedersen outsprints Josh Tarling to win Paris-Nice stage 6 after echelons chaos
Wind forces GC shake-up as Matteo Jorgenson holds race lead
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard abandons Paris-Nice after stage 5 crash
Former Tour de France winner to recover from injuries at home
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Given the circumstances, it's very impressive that he finished this stage' - Jonas Vingegaard crashes at Paris-Nice, loses 26 seconds on stage 5
Visma-Lease a Bike rider left with cut on lip and and ceded race lead on Thursday, understood to have hurt wrist
By Adam Becket Published
-
'The legs were on fire' - Lenny Martinez powers to victory on stage 5 of Paris-Nice as Matteo Jorgenson moves back into the race lead
American takes over the yellow jersey after Jonas Vingegaard ships time on steep final climb to La Côte-Saint-André
By Tom Thewlis Published