Lastras keeps his cool

Despite a second consecutive win for Milram's Alessandro Petacchi, Caisse d’Epargne rider Pablo Lastras kept his overall lead after stage four of the Vuelta a Andalucía from La Guardia de Jaén to Écija on Wednesday.

"Things occurred exactly as I hoped and we could reckon on the help of the teams of the sprinters to neutralize the breakaways," said Lastras after he crossed the finishing line.

"The entire team did a great job, as it already did it in the previous stages. Tomorrow will not be an easy day and we will have to be very careful, but I hope to finish this race the best possible way, which means on the first step of the podium," said the Caisse d'Epargne rider.

After his win, Petacchi lauded his team-mates, crediting them for "always maintaining control over the five escapees without giving them too much of a margin." He added happily, "I feel really good to be able to give my team the third win of the year."

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Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.