Volta a Catalunya (st. 4)

Movistar Team went on the late moves in the final circuit with Quintana and defended their position with Pardilla, Arroyo and the Colombian into the main group of favourites

The 92nd Volta a Catalunya offered an interesting finale for stage four in Ascó, at the end of a 199-kilometer trek from Tremp that saw exciting moves for the ending hour of racing. The double ascent towards the Cat. 2 Alt de Paumeres (Cat. 2), which several attempts in which Nairo Quintana had a special load of protagonism. The Colombian rider from Movistar Team tried it twice in search for the day’s victory, the last attack just few meters before the final kilometer into the last uphill.

Nairo’s move was overcome by the attack from Menchov, Urán, Samuel Sánchez, Leipheimer, Szmyd and Moncoutié, who kept a small gap on a second echelon of favourites including Qunitana, Arroyo and Pardilla. The effort from several squads, Movistar Team among those, shortened the gap until the six escapees came to the finish with a handful of meters to contest the sprint, won by Urán (SKY) into a 20-rider field. The overall classifcation is still led by Albasini (GEC) as Pardilla sits now in 7th place. The fifth stage will be ridden on Friday, with 207 kilometers from Ascó to Manresa and the Alt de Montserrat (Cat. 1) just 22k from the finish.