Tour of the Basque Country 2017: Solo victory Primoz Roglic, De la Cruz retains lead

Stage 4 in the Tour of the Basque Country takes in two steep ascents. The last one, Vivero, reduces the peloton with only a drop to Bilbao left. Primoz Roglic jumps clear with 3 kilometres to go and the former ski jumper soloes to victory. De la Cruz is still in the lead, albeit with the tiniest of margins. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Tour of the Basque Country

1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Michael Matthews (aus) + 0.03
3. Giovanni Visconti (ita) s.t.
4. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
5. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
6. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
7. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
8. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.
9. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
10. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. David de la Cruz (spa)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 0.03
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
5. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
6. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
7. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
8. Rubén Fernández (spa) s.t.
9. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
10. Sam Oomen (nld) s.t.

Race report
No shortage of attempts, but it takes 50 kms before Skujiņš and Belkov manage to force a gap with Lastra bridging over. They race to a lead of a few minutes when Moinard pops up after a long chase. The quartet races to a maximum lead of almost 5 minutes.

Skujiņš is the last escapee to be reeled in at the foot of the Vivero, while the main group is down to some 30 riders at the top. In the drop more riders close the gap.

With 3 kms remaining Roglic attacks and he holds off the chasing peloton by 2 seconds. The Slovenian now sits in second overall, only 1 second behind De la Cruz.

Read about the route of stage 4 in the 2017 Tour of the Basque Country.