Ruta del Sol 2023: Pogacar scores hattrick to cement lead

image: Cor VosPavel Sivakov is the strongest rider from the breakaway. Tadej Pogacar and Enric Mas catch him in the last 12 kilometres before the yellow jersey powers to triumph in the steep and narrow streets of Iznájar. That's three stage wins in four days time for Pogacar. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2023 Ruta del Sol

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.03
3. Lorenzo Rota (ita) + 0.09
4. Mikel Landa (spa) + 0.12
5. Santiago Buitrago (col) + 0.21
6. Nick Schultz (aus) s.t.
7. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) s.t.
8. Andres Kron (den) + 0.24
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0.33
10. Carlos Rodriguez (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Mikel Landa (spa) + 1.14
3. Santiago Buitrago (col) + 1.19
4. Carlos Rodriguez (spa) + 1.35
5. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.54
6. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 2,43
7. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 3.05
8. Lorenzo Rota (ita) + 3.23
9. Andreas Kron (den) + 3.45
10. Pavel Sivakov (fra) + 3.53

Race report
Latour and Arrieta are the first attackers at kilometre 5. The first pushes on alone and when a group of 14 riders, including Mohoric, rejoins him the attack is neutralised.

Attacks keep flying, but it’s only after 70 kilometres of action that the breakaway goes clear. Sivakov, Guerreiro, Sobrero, Serrano, Zambanini, Taminiaux, Smith, Eenkoorn and Boasson Hagen put more than 3 minutes into the peloton.

Serrano, Zambanini, Taminiaux and Smith can’t follow the pace on the Cerro de San Cristobal, while Cepeda makes it across to the front.

The gap has fallen below 1 minute when Sivakov heads out alone on the Alto de Jaramillo. Cepeda rejoins him on descent, drops again, rejoins, only to lose contact for good in the last KOM climb.

Meanwhile, the chasing GC group is down to 20 men.

Haig strikes several times and Pogacar brings him back. Eventually, the GC leader strikes himself. Only Mas is able to follow and the two gobble up Sivakov. Mohoric closes down the gap on descent, only to lose contact when the road kick up again. Landa, Kron and Rota close the gap inside the last 2 kilometres.

It does not really matter, as it comes down to a Mas/Pogacar clash anyway. The Spaniard puts pressure on the Slovene, who sits quietly in the wheels to power away in the dying metres of the race. That’s three stage wins in four stages.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2023 Ruta del Sol.