Vuelta 2017 Favourites stage 4: Fast finishers in coastal town

fotobureau Cor VosFast finishers are favourite to win the 4th stage in the Vuelta a España. The start is in the mountainous microstate Andorra before the route runs mostly downhill to Tarragona on the Catalan coast. (Slideshow route/profile)

The opening kilometres of the 4th stage in the Vuelta run on the same route as the 3rd stage, but in the opposite direction and without turning off for detours through the mountains. Via La Seu d'Urgell the riders head for the Catalan coast. The route takes in a few minor climbs with the Alto de Belltall the biggest hurdle. This is an ascent of almost 13 kilometres at 2.9% and on the top it's 66.2 kilometres left to Tarragona, mostly in gentle descent. The last 500 metres are a false flat at 3 to 4%.

Tarragona hosted a finish in the 2013 Vuelta with Philippe Gilbert sprinting to victory. Also in that edition the last 2 kilometres were slightly uphill, while Edvald Boasson Hagen came in second and Maximiliano Richeze in third.

Favourites 4th stage 2017 Vuelta

*** John Degenkolb, Sacha Modolo, Magnus Cort
** Adam Blythe, Jonas Van Genechten, Juan José Lobato, Jens Debusschere
* Tom Van Asbroeck, Matteo Trentin, Marco Haller, José Joaquin Rojas, Michael Schwarzmann