Vuelta 2018 Stage 4: Ben King wins first top finish in two-up sprint, Kwiatkowski still leader

In the 4th stage La Vuelta a España serves its first summit finish. The race boils down to a breakaway battle with Ben King outsprinting Nikita Stalnov at the top of a 12.4 kilometres climb at 5.4%. Michal Kwiatkowski holds on to the red jersey, although Simon Yates bravely attacked in the last 4 kilometres. The Brit now sits in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Benjamin King (usa)
2. Nikita Stalnov (kaz) + 0.02
3. Pierre Rolland (fra) + 0.13
4. Luis Ángel Maté (spa) + 1.08
5. Ben Gastauer (lux) + 1.39
6. Jelle Wallays (bel) + 1.57
7. Óscar Cabedo (spa) + 2.24
8. Simon Yates (gbr) + 2.48
9. Emmanuel Buchmann (ger) + 2.50
10. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.07

12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 3.13
13. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 3.15
14. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
16. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
17. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
18. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
20. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
21. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
22. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
23. George Bennett (nzl) s.t.
24. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
25. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
28. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 3.57
31. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 5.09
48. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 8.11
67. Bauke Mollema (nld) + 11.51

GC after the 4th stage
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol)
2. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 0.07
3. Simon Yates (gbr) + 0.10
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.12
5. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.25
6. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.30
7. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.33
8. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
9. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.37
10. Enric Mas (spa) + 0.42

11. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
12. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 0.43
13. George Bennett (nzl) + 0.45
14. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.46
15. Fabio Aru (ita) + 0.47
16. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.48
17. David de la Cruz (spa) + 0.53
24. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 3.10
25. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 3.18

Race report
KOM leader Luis Ángel Maté, Pierre Rolland, Lars Boom, Benjamin King, Nikita Stalnov, Ben Gastauer, Aritz Bagües, Oscar Cabedo and Jelle Wallays jump clear once the flag is dropped. The nine race to a lead of 6 minutes on the first climb, Alto de la Cabra Montés. Maté cements his KOM lead as he is the first rider over the summit.

The front group distances the peloton until the gap is almost 10 minutes. A few kms before the final climb Wallays, King and Stalnov head out together. They tackle the first slopes 30 seconds ahead of the other attackers and with the peloton 8 minutes in arrears.

King and Stalnov leave Wallays behind. Rolland tries to track the leaders down, while Vincenzo Nibali, Ilnur Zakarin, Bauke Mollema, David de la Cruz and Laurens De Plus can’t follow the pace in the peloton.

Simon Yates strikes with some 4 kms left to climb. He opens up a gap before Emanuel Buchmann tries to track him down. The German almost makes it across, but finishes 2 seconds behind the Brit. Still, he moves up to second place overall, 7 seconds behind leader Kwiatkowski and 3 seconds ahead of Yates. Alejandro Valverde sits 2 seconds further back in fourth.

The 5th stage moves through the Alpujarras mountain range – yet, a bunch is a possible outcome.