Volta a Catalunya Stage 4: Victory for Alejandro Valverde, 37

Class was in session today as Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) took a textbook victory at stage 4 of the Volta a Catalunya 2018. The Murcian rider made his intentions clear for the queen stage to La Molina- he even invited his colleagues to join the party. It was a flawless performance by Movistar in the race finale. Marc Soler and Nairo Quintana worked alongside Il Imbatido, to pave the way for an effortless victory.

Soler, relentlessly pushed on the front of the leading quartet during the last 7km of the race, piling the pressure on a valiant Egan Bernal (Team Sky). The young Colombian performed well but was isolated between two rivals and although he could match them, had nothing left in the tank by the finish line.

Quintana took the third step on the podium while Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) completed the top 5 of the day. Alejandro Valverde, adds a seventh win to his 2018 campaign and the second at this Volta a Catalunya. He also moves ahead to pole position in the general classification that he is well on the way to winning. What more will “El Bala” pull out of the bag this season?

Volta a Catalunya Stage 4 Results

1 Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
2 Egan Bernal (Team Sky) same time
3 Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +0’06
4 Pierre Latour (AG2R La Mondiale) +0’23
5 Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) +0’53
6 Marc Soler (Movistar) same time
7 Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) same time
8 Hugh Carthy (EF Education First) +0’59
9 Daniel Felipe Martinez (EF Education) +1’03
10 Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy) same time