Chris Froome has taken over the lead of the 61st Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol in Southern Spain after victory in the fourth stage.
Alberto Contador was in the leaders jersey for this stage which has a category one mountain finish at Alto de las Allanadas after starting out in Maracena after 199.8km of riding.
One hundred and thirty six riders started the stabe which saw Pello Bilbao of Caja Rural take the first climb of the day and on a day when any early breaks were quickly shut down, meaning that there were no breaks until the fifty kilometres to go mark on a day where temperatures were around eight degrees on a wet and windy day.
The break of Edward Theuns (Topsport Vlaanderen Baloise), Romain Sicard (Europcar), Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural), Simon Geschke (Giant-Alpecin) and Mirklo Selvaggi (Wanty Groupe Gobert) took four minutes but were soon brought back by Team Sky and only Mirko Selvaggi (Wanty-Gobert) was left from the break going in the final kilometres after he had shelled Geschke who had taken the second and third sprints.
Nicholas Roche worked hard along with Peter Kennaugh who brought up Chris Froome, who was second in the general classification, with three kilometres to go.
Contador was following but after Team Sky's Mikel Nieve had took a turn on the front, Chris Froome made his move and double kicked and away he went. The race leader tried to follow but Froome was away and won in 5.08.54, some 29 seconds ahead of Contador, 49 seconds ahead of Nieve.Sylwester Szmyd was fourth 59 seconds down with Benat Intxausti a minute down.
Peter Kennaugh finished in thirteenth.
Going into the final stage, Froome leads the race by two seconds ahead of Contador and 2.32 ahead of Benat Intxausti.
“I’m absolutely blown away to have pulled that off at the end there,” Froome told TeamSky.com.
“I came into this race thinking that ‘I’m here to find my legs, test them, and see where I’m at’. To have been able to win the stage and go into the race lead today is incredible.
“My team-mates rode exceptionally to set it up. They made the race as hard as possible on the last climb, attacking and really setting it up for me.
"That situation's great for the race, and great for the fans. It's turning into a great dual between myself and Alberto. Yesterday he came out on top, and today it was me. I’m really happy with that, and how my team are riding. The new guys have integrated well and everyone’s got the bit between their teeth.
"This race is not over until it’s over though. In the last few years I’ve learnt that Alberto never gives up and there’s a steep ramp at the end tomorrow which will decide things once and for all."
Source: DSG
