INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Tuesday’s fourth stage of La Vuelta saw another summit finish with the final 11km heading mostly uphill.
It was a stage where a number of teams believed that the break could make it all the way to the line, and so there was a big battle to make it into the early move. After 35km, 21 riders managed to put some distance between themselves and the peloton.
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka was well represented up front with both Nathan Haas and Merhawi Kudus forming part of the breakaway.
The peloton slowly let the gap go out to a maximum of 5'30" and being led by Movistar, the Spanish team was content to just ride tempo until the final climb began.
This worked out well for the break as it became obvious with around 30km to go that they would decide the stage.
“From the start it was a typical Vuelta stage. Everybody is so hungry for a last-minute result and yesterday the break stayed away so already there was blood in the water and the breakaway sharks were out to play again today,” said Haas
The attacks from the break began almost 20km before the final climb started, but it was only on the climb itself where the difference would be made. Calmejane went away with around 8km to go as the remnants of the break tried to organise a chase without giving too much away.
There was a slight descent which began with 5km to go before the final four ramped up again. This is where Calmejane capitalised, opening up a 25-second lead that would be enough to go on and win the stage.
