Vuelta 2019: Jakobsen bests Bennett, Roche still leader

Dutch champion Fabio Jakobsen outguns Sam Bennet in a close finish in El Puig. Nicolas Roche stays in the GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage Vuelta a España 2019

1. Fabio Jakobsen (nld)
2. Sam Bennett (irl) s.t.
3. Max Walscheid (ger) s.t.
4. Fernando Gaviria (col) s.t.
5. Luka Mezgec (slo) s.t.
6. Marc Sarreau (fra) s.t.
7. Szymon Sajnok (pol) s.t.
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (nor) s.t.
9. Jon Aberasturi (spa) s.t.
10. Juan Sebastián Molano (col) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Nicolas Roche (irl)
2. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.02
3. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.08
4. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 0.22
5. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.33
6. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.35
7. Sergio Higuita (col) + 0.37
8. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.38
9. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.46
10. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.

12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.49
14. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.08
15. Pierre Latour (fra) + 1.09
17. George Bennett (nzl) + 1.13
22. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 1.40
25. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 1.46
26. Tejay van Garderen (usa) s.t.
27. Daniel Félipe Martínez (col) s.t.
34. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 2.05
58. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 6.17

Race report
Two riders attack straight from the gun. Jelle Wallays and Jorge Cubero race to a lead of 7 minutes before the peloton takes the reins. Around the halfway mark, Steven Kruijswijk abandons the race with a sore knee.

Wallays continues alone in the last 31 kilometres before he is reeled in with 18 kilometres left.

Remi Cavagna attacks inside the last 6 kilometres, but he is caught just before the flamme rouge. Moments later Sam Bennett loses his position when he takes the wrong way around a roundabout.

A perfect lead-out by Maximilian Richeze brings young Fabio Jakobsen in a perfect position to win his first Gran Tour stage. And he does, although Sam Bennett almost makes it back. Yet, the Dutch champion edges out the Irish champion to take the spoils.

Nicolas Roche stays in the red jersey.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2019 Vuelta.