Joao Almeida wins the fourth stage of the Volta Catalunya from La Seu d'Urgell to Boí Taüll of 166.7 km. The Portuguese precedes Nairo Quintana and Sergio Higuita in the sprint, with an exciting extension in the final.

Fourth place for Poels, who precedes the excellent Johannessen, Ayuso and Carapaz.

The race already comes alive at 12km from the finish with the forcing of the men of Arkea and O'Connor who is immediately ready to close the hole. When there are 10 km left to the finish line, George Bennett takes off and quickly reaches Bruno Armirail , the last one left among the attackers of the day.  

The big names are all in front, O'Connor , Quintana , Carapaz , Ayuso and Higuita , when the Ineos start to lead the pack with the great work of Castroviejo .  

At 4 km from the conclusion, Carlos Rodriguez stretches and makes a selection: Sosa comes off. Then, a kilometer later, Carapaz takes the lead, takes a hundred meters ahead and is joined by Higuita ; behind it is Almeida who sets the pace in the big group and gets back on the two leaders.  

A kilometer and a half from the end, O'Connor also gives up and only Almeida, Carapaz, Higuita and Quintana remain in front.  

At 600 meters from the conclusion, Carapaz is unable to keep up with the best   and in an exciting sprint it is Almeida who wins, ahead of Quintana and Hguita.  

Quintana is the new leader of the general classification, albeit with the same time as Almeida: it will be a final to be followed at the Volta Catalunya.  

ARRIVAL ORDER:  

1 ALMEIDA João UAE Team Emirates

2 QUINTANA Nairo Team Arkéa Samsic ,,

3 HIGUITA Sergio BORA - hansgrohe ,,

4 POELS Wout Bahrain - Victorious 0:07

5 JOHANNESSEN Tobias Halland Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 0:13

6 AYUSO Juan UAE Team Emirates ,,

7 CARAPAZ Richard INEOS Grenadiers ,,

8 HINDLEY Jai BORA - hansgrohe ,,

9 RODRÍGUEZ Carlos INEOS Grenadiers ,,

10 MARTIN Guillaume Cofidis ,,

11 TRÆEN Torstein Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 0:21

12 O'CONNOR Ben AG2R Citroën Team 0:23

13 BENNETT George UAE Team Emirates 0:43

14 OOMEN Sam Jumbo-Visma 0:49

15 VERONA Carlos Movistar Team 0:51

GENERAL RANKING:

1 QUINTANA Nairo Team Arkéa Samsic 6

2 ALMEIDA João UAE Team Emirates ,,

3 HIGUITA Sergio BORA - hansgrohe 0:06

4 O'CONNOR Ben AG2R Citroën Team 0:16

5 AYUSO Juan UAE Team Emirates 0:17

6 POELS Wout Bahrain - Victorious ,,

7 JOHANNESSEN Tobias Halland Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 0:23

8 MARTIN Guillaume Cofidis ,,

9 CARAPAZ Richard INEOS Grenadiers 0:26

10 TRÆEN Torstein Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 0:34

11 BENNETT George UAE Team Emirates 0:56

12 HINDLEY Jai BORA - hansgrohe 0:59

13 RODRÍGUEZ Carlos INEOS Grenadiers ,,

14 OOMEN Sam Jumbo-Visma 1:02

15 VERONA Carlos Movistar Team 1:04

© Photo Spring Cycling

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