Stage 4

The road

At the start

Back to Spain, uphill into Laguardia

Three days in the Netherlands and an early rest day are done, and the Vuelta comes home to the Basque Country, which it has not crossed all three provinces of since 2012. Jumbo-Visma still fill the first six places, Edoardo Affini in red, with Ineos thirteen seconds back. Today is 152 hilly kilometres to Laguardia, the Puerto de Herrera fifteen from home and a last 800 metres at close to ten per cent.

How it was won

1. 190 km to go

   The Vuelta's first real climb

   Bou accelerates away for the maximum five points, the biggest haul of the race so far — and with Van den Berg unable to make the break, the polka-dot jersey changes shoulders again.

2. 234 km to go

   Shaw takes it by a second

   The remnants of the six-man break just about hang on to contest the intermediate, Shaw crossing a second or two before Pedersen pips Bennett from the bunch behind.

3. 314 km to go

   Roglič answers Alaphilippe

   Jumbo-Visma's steady tempo has cut the bunch to fifty. There are bonus seconds at the top and Alaphilippe hits out for them — Roglič responds instantly and takes the maximum three, ahead of the Frenchman and Jay Vine. QuickStep force the issue on the descent and the bunch splits again.

4. 4At the line

   Roglič into red in Laguardia

   Movistar put three men on the front all the way to the double-digit final kilometre. Roglič shows himself at 750 metres, backs off, refuses to be drawn — then produces the trademark acceleration on the narrow, steep run to the line. Ten seconds for the win, three from the Herrera, and the red jersey after doubts about his Tour injuries.

The result