Vuelta 2014: Favourites stage 4 - Sagan and Degenkolb territory

The 4th stage of the 2014 Vuelta heads to Córdoba to finish on a local circuit of 40 kilometres with a short 14% climb. The final 800 metres are a false flat up, so that's Sagan and Degenkolb territory one would assume. (Slideshow route/profile)

John Degenkolb (image) loves stages like this. Unlike his team mate Marcel Kittel he is tailor made for finales containing small climbs. In 2012 he was a five time victor in La Vuelta.

Peter Sagan was a three time winner in 2011, his only appearance in La Vuelta as of yet. In last Tour de France he took the green jersey but no stage victory. The 24-year old will see a different scenario in Spain for himself, but was under the rader in the first stages.

Aussie-sprinter Michael Matthews is strongest when the finish is not too easy, proven by a brilliant victory in yesterday’s stage. In the recent Giro he won a hilly stage and wore the pink jersey for six days. Last season he debuted in a Grand Tour by winning two Vuelta stages.

Nacer Bouhanni took stage 2 and was suprisingly fast on the short closing climb in Arcos de la Frontera, so definitely a rider to be reckoned with.

Other sprinters aboard are Moreno Hofland, Jens Debusscherre, Andrea Guardini and Matteo Pelucchi. The tricky finale may be too tough to handle for them.