The scene was once again set for a GC-battle on the finishing climb to Alto de Allanadas. Alberto Contador and Chris Froome once again proved the strongest of the favorites in another early-season showdown, but this time it was the Kenyan who drew the longest straw. Alberto Contador crossed the finish line 29 seconds behind Froome, who now leads the race with just two seconds, on the eve of Sunday’s final stage.
Tinkoff-Saxo took control again on today’s stage 4 of Vuelta a Andalucía and rode in front, keeping the breakaway within reach and supporting team leader Alberto Contador. On the finishing climb, however, the tables had turned and it was Chris Froome’s turn to take the win. Asked if he was satisfied after the stage, Alberto replied:
“I’m satisfied with this tour, and of course especially with my performance yesterday. But at this moment of the season there will always be greater variations between the daily shape on each stage. Yesterday, I had a great feeling – today, I didn’t have the same legs”.
“After the stage yesterday, people said that I was perhaps in too good a shape at this moment in my race schedule. But everything is going according to the plan and I’m on track with my preparations ahead of my season goals”, comments Alberto Contador, who sits 2nd in the GC after today’s stage, while leading the points classification.
Stage 4 from Maracena to Alto de Allanadas was marked by 202 kilometers in cold, winter temperatures with downpour on most of the stage. Judged by the grimaces pulled in the peloton, the weather made for a tough stage. Going into the final climb, Team Sky came to the fore and launched several attacks to drive up the pace. With a few kilometers to go, the last man of the early break was caught, after which Chris Froome launched his attack.
Alberto Contador attached to the wheel of the Kanyan, however, eventually had to let go and a fight for seconds began as the gap stabilized. Despite Alberto getting his second wind on the final 500 meters he passed on the leader’s jersey with just two seconds.
About the team’s overall performance, Tinkoff-Saxo DS Steven de Jongh said “the team did a fine job all day in the front of the peloton and took a lot of wind. They worked to set up the stage for Alberto, but on the last kilometers Froome was the best on the day. But I’m very positive. We all saw what Alberto did yesterday and in the early season you have good and bad days”.
“Tomorrow is the last stage. It will be a fast one but the road kicks up in the very last kilometer. Normally the GC is set by now, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow”, finishes Steven de Jongh.
