Chaves takes Catalonia 4th stage as Adam Yates retains race lead
Colombia's Esteban Chaves won the fourth stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Thursday, crossing the line first at the summit finish to claim his first major victory in two years
Colombia's Esteban Chaves won the fourth stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Thursday, crossing the line first at the summit finish to claim his first major victory in two years.
The Team BikeExchange rider finished the 166.5km stage at Port Aine, at an altitude of 2,000 metres, seven seconds ahead of a bunch that included overall leader Adam Yates.
Ineos' Yates holds on to first place in the general classification, 45 and 49 seconds respectively ahead of teammates Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas.
Chaves sits sixth in the overall standings, 1min 4sec back after a deserved win in the Pyrenees, his first since taking stage 19 at the 2019 Giro d'Italia.
The 31-year-old attacked with around seven kilometres remaining and managed to hold off a powerful chasing pack which also included 2018 Tour de France winner Thomas and Nairo Quintana, a former victor at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
Esteban Chaves, who hasn't won a race or stage since the 2019 Giro d'Italia said after his stage win, ""I’m really happy. I’ve never started a season feeling so good and winning like this. It’s a WorldTour win for the team, and the first victory as BikeExchange, so I’m very happy. We've worked very hard. I’ve had some difficult months and years but the team has helped me a lot, as have my family, my girlfriend… It’s a great satisfaction."
"I knew the roads. I live in Andorra and I knew it was a very hard stage. I wanted to try something. I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain. There was a headwind and that was a risk but in the end things turned out very well. I had great legs today and felt good, and showed it with this great victory."
"It gives me a lot of confidence, and a lot of calm. I’ve worked really conscientiously and the work is starting to bear fruit. Winning is always beautiful and special, and I want to thank my team, who did an amazing job today."
Friday's fifth stage is a 201.5km run between La Pobla de Segur and Manresa which features a rapid downhill finish.
VIDEO: 2021 Volta a Catalunya Stage 4 Highlights
2021 Volta a Catalunya Stage 4 Top 10
1 Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Team BikeExchange 4:29:47
2 Michael Woods (Can) Israel Start-up Nation 0:00:07
3 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
4 Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
5 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma
6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
7 Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers
8 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
9 Nairo Quintana (Col) Team Arkea-Samsic
10 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Team BikeExchange
2021 Volta a Catalunya GC after Stage 4
1 Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 14:14:15
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:45
3 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:49
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:03
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Team BikeExchange 0:01:04
7 João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:01:07
8 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education-Nippo 0:01:20
9 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma 0:01:29
10 Simon Yates (GBr) Team BikeExchange 0:01:32