PARIS – The Portuguese Joao Almeida (UAE) won the 4th stage of the Tour of Catalonia, Thursday, on arrival in the resort of Boi Taüll, ahead of the Colombian Nairo Quintana, new leader of the event.
Almeida sprinted ahead of his last two companions, Nairo Quintana and the Colombian Sergio Higuita, at more than 2000 meters above sea level.
The bearer of the leader’s jersey, the Australian Ben O’Connor, let go 1700 meters from the finish and conceded 23 seconds.
In the general classification, Quintana and Almeida, at the same time, are separated by the addition of the places at the various stage finishes.
Friday, the 5th stage descends into the plain on a 206 kilometer route between La Pobla de Segur and Vilanova i la Geltru.
Ranking of the 4th stage :
1. Joao Almeida (POR / UAE), the 166 km in 4 h 40:27.
2. Nairo Quintana (COL/ARK) mt
3. Sergio Higuita (COL/BOR) mt
4. Wout Poels (NED / BAH) at 07.
5. Tobias Johannessen (NOR/UNO) 13.
6. Juan Ayuso (ESP/UAE) 13.
7. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) 13.
8. Jai Hindley (AUS/BOR) 13.
9. Carlos Rodríguez (ESP/INE) 13.
10. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) 13.
…
12. Ben O’Connor (AUS/AG2) 23.
54. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 5:41.
General classification :
1. Nairo Quintana (COL/Arkea-Samsic) 5:04:53 p.m.
2. Joao Almeida (POR/UAE) mt
3. Sergio Higuita (COL / BOR) at 06.
4. Ben O’Connor (AUS/AG2) 16.
5. Juan Ayuso (ESP/UAE) 17.
6. Wout Poels (NED/BAH) 17.
7. Tobias Johannessen (NOR/UNO) 23.
8. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) 23.
9. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) 26.
10. Torstein Träen (NOR/UNO) 34.
…
12. Jai Hindley (AUS/BOR) 59.
