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As it happened: Sprinters dominate Volta a Catalunya stage 4

Volta a Catalunya stage 4 profile

(Image credit: Volta a Catalunya)

Volta a Catalunya - Everything you need to know

Volta a Catalunya route

Volta a Catalunya: Tadej Pogačar does it again on stage 3 summit

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Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 4 of the Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya!

If you haven't caught up with the action so far in Catalonia, needless to say it's been the Pogacar show, with him winning two back-to-back stages. Here's our full report from stage 3.

The official race start is somewhat opaque, with it variably listed as 11.40 and 12.45 - however it seems that riders will most likely depart in the next few minutes from the start town of Sort.

169km to go

It appears that in true Thomas De Gendt style, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny) has launched a two-man attack from the gun.

De Gendt's breakaway companion is Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma), and they currently have around 9 seconds on the peloton within the first few kilometres of racing.

Idar Andersen (Uno-X Mobility) joins the two breakaway riders out front, and while the gap is slim it looks this one could stick.

Our breakaway of three – Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny), Urko Berrade (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Idar Andersen (Uno-X Mobility) – now has over 30 seconds on the main peloton.

150km to go

Idar Andersen (Uno-X Mobility) cut a relaxed figure in the start village of Sort ahead of the race start.

We're just over 20km into the stage, and the break has grown comfortably to over three minutes. There can now be no doubt that these escapees will stay out for the majority of the day. 

140km to go

The gradual descent from the foothills of the Pyrenees has sparked a fast start to the stage and an average for the first hour of 47.2 km/h. 

Today is Thomas de Gendt day. The veteran Belgian has won five stage at the Volta and is looking for a sixth in his final season at WorldTour level.

Here's de Gendt leading the break today.

Tadej Pogacar is in the leader's white and green jersey after dominating the two mountain finishes.

Tadej Pogacar was in demand for autographs at the start.

The stage descends from the Pyrenees to Lleida but includes the Port d'Àger climb mid-stage. 

With the peloton keeping the break at around 2:30, the climb will be decisive for the three attackers. 

The peloton will have to ride steady to ensure their sprinters are not dropped and so can't go full gas on the climb. 

It's another busy day of racing, with the Classic Brugge-De Panne Women race underway in Belgium. It's a WorldTour race and so Cyclingnews has full live coverage, with Amy Jones providing the updates.  

It's interesting that Cofidis, EF and Intermarche are leading the chase. 

No stress for teams like Jayco so far.

100km to go

Today is a day for the break and perhaps a sprint but yesterday was the second consecutive mountain finish, which saw the second consecutive attack and dominant display from Tadej Pogacar.

Thomas de Gendt was first over the top of the Port d'Àger and scored five KOM points. 

The 25km descent is almost over and the break has kept a lead of 3:15.

No time or need for a bidon for de Gendt and the break.

It's a nice day for a bike race as the stage heads south to Lleida.   

60km to go

The gap to the break is 2:30 as EF, Cofidis and Alpecin and Intermarche continue to lead the chase. 

There is a slight side wind and so there is a hint of an echelon in the peloton. They're on exposed plains no. 

45km to go

Cofidis have added a second rider to the chase and that has increased the speed. They're riding for Bryan Coquard as they look to land their first win of 2024.

40km to go

Ethan Hayter is talking to the Ineos team car. He could be a contender for the sprint finish but clealry has some injuries and so maybe some concerns about the finish. 

35km to go

30km to go

There was a brief but intense battle for the bonus seconds.

Wout Poels won the intermediate sprint, taking three bonus seconds, Sepp Kuss was second and took two seconds, with Antonio Tiberi, also of Bahrain, third to take one second.

Kuss and Poels are fighting for places in the top ten and so perhaps top five in the final stages.

20km to go

The final 20km are packed with roundabout and some road furniture. 

Luis Ángel Maté is refusing to give up, asking as a hare to chase for the peloton.

Luis Ángel Maté is trying to keep his speed high and has a lead of 15 seconds.

12km to go

10km to go

On a wide section of road, teams try to move up. But they're all tying to move up at the same time.

The sprint teams are lined out but packed together as the speed rises. 

Wow! There's a huge roundabout but which is the best line? left or right? 

Cofidis now lead the line, with Geraint Thomas up front leading Ethan Hayter.   

The speed is up to 53 km/h and so every line on every roundabout matters. 

3km to go

Egan Bernal is leading out Thomas and Hayter.

Bernal is tiring but still powers along on the front.  

1km to go

Thomas uses his power to lead it out! 

They cross a bridge and other teams come up. 

It was a downhill sprint and then a rise. Riders are spread across the road.

Coquard was there, Hayter too but Marijn van den Berg (EF) came through to win it!

He gives a thumbs up and a kiss to the television cameras. 

It's Marijn van den Berg's first win of 2024 but his fourth of his career.

Marijn van den Berg won it by a bike length with an excellent bike throw.

Arne Marit of Intermarche was second and Emīls Liepiņš (DSM) was third, with Coquard fourth.

Ethan Hayter was seventh after fading in the final metres.  

Tadej Pogacar (UAE) finished safely in the peloton and so kept his race lead for another day.

This is the shot of Marijn van den Berg  winning the sprint. 

"It was hectic with all the roundabouts but I knew that Bryan Coquard was a really fast guy, so I aimed for his wheel. I kept it until the finish and then came over him in the last few hundred metres,” Marijn van den Berg explained. 

“It was a really fast day. The plan was to go for me, so the team rode to control the break. I felt good all day and they kept me in the front," he added. 

Marijn van den Berg impressed at the Challenge Mallorca races but then crashed during the Volta ao Algarve. 

To read out full stage report and see our photo gallery, click below. 

Friday's fifth stage is from Altafulla to Viladecans over 167.3km . The stage includes some climbs as the road heads inland on a ride to near Barcelona. 

Thanks for joining us for full live coverage of the stage. We'll be back on Friday for full live coverage of stage 5.  

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