Van Garderen Wins Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Fourth Stage

27 March 2014 04:28

BMC's Tejay Van Garderen won the fourth stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

The race stayed in the mountains with another gruelling 166.4km stage from Alp to Vallter 2000.

The stage started without Carlos Betancur of AG2R, Chris Horner, Danielson and Arredondo and saw race leader Joaquim Rodriquez of Katusha allow Ruben Plaza Molina (Movistar Team), Stef Clement (Belkin Pro Cycling Team), Thomas De Gendt (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step), and Maxime Mederel (Team Europcar).to get away.

When Brett Lancaster abandoned after fifty kilometres, their lead was 4.10 and maxed at 4.20 before dropping to 3.55 by the time, De Gendt took the first sprint of the day.

Clement was first over the category 1 Alto de Oix as a storm and low cloud at the finish line in Vallter reduced the visability.

Over the category 1 Rocabruna and Alberto Contador attempted to bring back the four escapers.

This saw Thomas De Gendt take over and going into the final fifteen kilometres, the Frenchman was a minute ahead having been joined by Plaza and Serpa.

Rolland attacked from the peloton and was within thirty seconds going into the final ten kilometres and two kilometres on to the final Meta Vallter 2000 climb which was the Especial climb of the day for which a seperate jersey is awarded.

On this climb which has an average gradient of 7,8 % and a maximum of 12%, the three escapers were caught and the peloton was all together going into the final three kilometres.

Warren Barguil of Giant Shimano attacked taking eight seconds before being pulled back.

Chris Froome attacked but his attack from a group which contained Contador, Pozzovivo, Rodriguez and Quintana in the lead group was short lived and he was quickly dropped.

BMC's Tejay Van Garderen made the move inside the final kilometre and he sprinted away to take the win ahead of Bardet, Contador, Rodriguez, Quintana, Talansky and Froome.

Joaquim Rodriquez continues to lead the race but now only has a four second lead over Alberto Contador, seven over van Garderen, ten seconds over Bardet and Quintana and seventeen second over Chris Froome.

 

Source: DSG