photo credit @ BMC Racing
Tejay van Garderen (BMC) claimed stage 4 of this year’s Volta a Catalunya, marking the American rider’s first individual stage victory in Europe since 2009.
Van Gerderen proceeded to ride clear atop the La Molina, and clinch a solo victory ahead of Richie Porte (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo).
The Finale
Team Sky lead the chase up the final climb of the day, but despite having the last of the breakaway insight, a hesitation in the ranks, allowed Sky’s Vasil Kiryienka to make a break of it alone – subsequently catching the remaining escapees of the day – Tom Danielson ( Cannondale-Garmin) and Riccardo Zoidl (Trek Factory Racing).
From there, BMC’s Tejay Van Garderen managed to make it across to the trio as well.
With just a little more than 2 kilometers remaining, Alberto Contador could no longer contain his enthusiasm, and decided to make a jump to the leaders – bringing BMC’s Darwin Atapuma along with him.
Shortly thereafter, Kiryienka lost touch with Van Garderen. And, while Atapuma began to struggle, Contador decided to set off in pursuit of van Garderen alone.
While Contador was closing in on Van Garderen, Kiryienka made contact with teammate Richie Porte behind. And, from there, the two caught Contador during the final kilometer.
As van Garderen had the finish line in sight, Porte managed to distance Contador in the final few hundred meters to claim second place.
Meanwhile, Bart de Clercq (Lotto Soudal) finished well enough in the main peloton, to emerged as the new race leader.
He now now stands 21 seconds ahead of Porte, with Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) in third.
Stage 4 Results
USA 1 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) 5:00:36 AUS 2 PORTE, Richie (SKY) + 3 ESP 3 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF – SAXO) + 8 IRL 4 MARTIN, Daniel (CANNONDALE – GARMIN) NED 5 KELDERMAN, Wilco (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) COL 6 ATAPUMA HURTADO, Darwin (BMC RACING) + 11 ITA 7 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 15 ESP 8 VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 19 BLR 9 KIRYIENKA, Vasil (SKY) + 21 ESP 10 VALLS FERRI, Rafael (LAMPRE – MERIDA)
General Classification after Stage 4
BEL 1 DE CLERCQ, Bart (LOTTO SOUDAL) 18:32:02 AUS 2 PORTE, Richie (SKY) + 21 ITA 3 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 26 IRL 4 MARTIN, Daniel (CANNONDALE – GARMIN) + 27 ESP 5 CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF – SAXO) + 28 COL 6 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (ETIXX – QUICK STEP) + 45 ITA 7 ARU, Fabio (ASTANA) + 48 NED 8 KELDERMAN, Wilco (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) + 51 ESP 9 VALVERDE BELMONTE, Alejandro (MOVISTAR) + 52 COL 10 ATAPUMA HURTADO, Darwin (BMC RACING) + 54
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