At the end of 166.7 kilometers between La Seu d’Orgel and the summit of Boy Tawell, the Portuguese from the United Arab Emirates beat Colombians Nairo Quintana (Arcia Samsic) and Sergio Higuita (Bura-Hansgrohe) in a three-way race. Quintana has ousted Australian Ben O’Connor (AG2R-Citroën) as the overall leader. This fourth stage featured three Class I climbs: Coll de Boixols, Port de la Creu de Perves and Port de Boi Taüll.
On the Col de Buixole (12.7 km, 4.9 per cent), Spaniards Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek Segafredo), Jesus Herrada (Covides), France’s Bruno Armirael (Grupama-FDG) and Breton Hugh Carte (EF Education). -EasyPost) from peloton. They were later joined by Spain’s Mikel Pezcara (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Britain’s Mark Donovan (DSM).
On the first slopes of Boye Towell Harbor (13 km by 6 percent), Bruno Armirael was isolated in the foreground. 9 km of New Zealand’s line George Bennett (UAE Emirates team) joined him. Their attempt ended 4 kilometers from the line. The leader of General Ben O’Connor (AG2R-Citroën) left two kilometers from the summit.
Victory was decided in a three-way race, won by Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) ahead of Nairo Quintana (Arkia Samsik) and Sergio Higuita (Bora Hansgrohe). The 23-year-old Portuguese achieved 7 successes in his career, the first in the season.
Overall, Quintana took the leader’s shirt, with Almeida at the same time and Higuita six seconds behind. O’Connor followed in 16 seconds.
On Friday, stage five will connect La Pobla de Segur to Vilanova e la Geltrú (206.3 km)
Round 101 for Catalonia concludes on Sunday in Barcelona. Britain’s Adam Yates is the defending champion.
