Vuelta a Andalucia stage 4 live - Pogacar continues his domination

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 4 of the Vuelta a Andalucia.

We're around 15 minutes from the start of the stage in Olvera.

Of course, Tadej Pogačar is the overall leader today having won the opening two stages.

Pogačar leads the GC by 48 seconds from Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious).

UAE Team Emirates have won all three stages of the race so far, with Tim Wellens triumphing from the breakaway on Friday.

They could make it four from four today if they ride for Pogačar in a finale packed with hills.

Wellens celebrates his win on stage 3 in Alcalá de los Gazules.

Check here for our stage 3 race report, which saw Wellens prevail against his breakmates and high winds.

A look at the stage 3 results, the GC standings and the other classifications heading into today's stage.

Pogačar leads the overall and points classifications, while Gotzon Martín (Euskaltel-Euskadi) heads up the KOM rankings. Aaron Van Poucke (Flanders-Baloise) is the sprint classification leader.

The riders have rolled out for the neutral start and racing will be getting underway shortly.

The flag drops and racing is underway in Andalucia. It's a downhill run to start the day.

160km to go

Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) has been among the early attackers. 

After the short descent to kick things off, the peloton now head uphill with the second-category Puerto de Algámitas (5.8km at 3.1%).

The attacks continue to flow at the front.

Two riders who won't be on the move today are Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) and Ibai Azurmendi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who are non-starters on stage 4.

Some news this morning from the MPCC, who have praised teams for not signing Nairo Quintana.

The Colombian is still searching for a 2023 squad after his two tramadol positives at the 2022 Tour de France.

156km to go

Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) is currently leading a small move towards the top of the climb.

Latour has Igor Arrieta (Kern Pharma) with him.

152km to go

Over the top of the climb and Latour is now on his own out front with a gap of 20 seconds or so back to the peloton.

A descent now and then another short hill, though much of the remainders of today's climbing is packed into the final 50km of the stage.

In fact, the next classified climb comes up in around 90km.

145km to go

Latour still out front on his own currently.

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Back in Andalucia, Latour has been brought back on the flat. The attacks start up again from the peloton.

Mohorič is among the riders trying to get away but everything is getting shut down at the minute. A short unclassified climb coming up.

138km to go

Still no breakaway on the small hill. Largely flatter roads on the horizon after this, so it might take a while for the break to form. Either that, or a few riders from smaller teams jump away.

UAE Team Emirates are currently leading the peloton. No moves have gone.

Their ex-rider Rui Costa has enjoyed a great start to life at his new squad, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, with three wins under his belt so far in 2023.

Read our interview with him from the Volta ao Algarve.

130km to go

A small group is on the move currently. Could this finally be our breakaway of the day?

Mohorič is up there again...

Mohorič is joined in the move by Luis León Sánchez (Astana Qazaqstan), Omar Fraile (Ineos Grenadiers), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Samuel Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Dion Smith (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), Dries Van Gestel, Alan Jousseaume (TotalEnergies), and KOM leader Gotzon Martín (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

121km to go

The peloton, still led by UAE, has seen how strong that group is and accelerated in response. They won't be allowed to get away.

Yep, the group is caught and it's all back together at the front.

Now there's a counter-attack and the group on the move is larger than the one just caught.

A 42.458kph average speed so far on stage 4.

It's a strong group out front, with Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious), Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates), and Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) among the riders on the attack.

108km to go

The gap to the peloton is still only small with UAE Team Emirates still leading the way.

Well, it's a good thing I didn't type out the names of that group of 25 or so riders because they've been caught by the peloton already.

Still no breakaway!

102km to go

It's all largely flat roads at the moment as the peloton speeds towards the 100km to go mark. No major climbing for over 40km.

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So, it looks like there may be no breakaway at all on today's stage?? The riders are heading towards the mid-point of the day and still no move.

93km to go

A small group has made a move off the front of the peloton. Could this be it?

Guerreiro is back out there with teammate Gonzalo Serrano. Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers), Matteo Sobrero (Jayco-AlUla), Dion Smith (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny), Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), Dries Van Gestel, Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies) also in the move.

The peloton has slowed down a little and it seems like that could finally be our breakaway.

88km to go

The group has an advantage of a minute currently. This it it!

Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious) is also in the move.

Two minutes between the break and peloton now. A group of three riders is chasing between the two groups.

Lionel Taminiaux (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is another rider in the front group missed in the initial report of the break.

78km to go

The nine men in front are climbing again after a long period of largely flat roads. It's another uncategorised hill before the next major climb of the day.

The third-category Alto Cerro San Cristobal is next up on the menu. The riders will crest it at 55km to go.

After a short descent following the current hill, the riders will take on a long and gradual incline before starting the third-cat proper.

Sivakov is the best-placed man on the GC from the breakaway. The Frenchman is 2:52 down in 12th place.

UAE Team Emirates are working to control that gap. Sivakov is currently hovering at around second place on the virtual GC and is obviously a danger given his ability.

64km to go

The breakaway are racing uphill now. Some attacks at the front!

The gap to the peloton is still two minutes at the moment.

58km to go

Sivakov has taken the six seconds bonus available at the intermediate sprint, leading Guerreiro and Eenkhorn over the line.

The trio, plus Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), are 15 seconds up on the remainder of the breakaway currently.

Sobrero and Boasson Hagen have made it across to the lead split.

A look at one of the various breakaway attempts earlier on today.

The acceleration up front has seen the gap go up to 3:30, meanwhile. Sivakov is now the virtual GC leader!

Eenkhoorn leads the break over the top of the third-category climb.

43km to go

UAE Team Emirates continues to lead the peloton. The riders are all heading down the other side of the climb now.

Just under three minutes between break and peloton now after an upping of the pace by UAE.

The gap is only coming down at the moment as UAE continue to work.

Eenkhoorn and Tamininaux at the front of the break earlier.

40km to go

Another hill, another descent and now the gap is down to two minutes. Sivakov is out of the virtual lead.

It's still Sivakov, Guerreiro, Sobrero, Cepeda, Boasson Hagen, Eenkhoorn out front. Those dropped from the break are almost back with the peloton now.

The break are losing time quickly now. Those dropped have been caught and now the leaders have just 1:30.

An unclassified climb for the break now as they head towards the Alto de El Jaramillo, the day's only second-category climb.

Boasson Hagen led the way over the last intermediate sprint, by the way. Not that it particularly has any bearing on proceedings.

32km to go

A minute now for the breakaway. Dutch champion Eenkhoorn dropped to his car with a mechanical problem but he's back in the breakaway now.

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty have joined UAE Team Emirates up front in the peloton. Bahrain Victorious also up there along with Movistar.

The breakaway is breaking up now as the riders hit the Alto de El Jaramillo.

30km to go

Sivakov solo at the front. 55 seconds back to the peloton.

Still three men left on the front for Pogačar.

Riders from the break dropping back to the peloton now. Eenkhoorn is caught.

Cepeda is next on the road at around 10 seconds behind Sivakov. Guerreiro and Sobrero are next.

The Alto de El Jaramillo is 4.8km long at an average of 7.3%.

28km to go

Cepeda is coming back to Sivakov here.

Guerreiro, now alone, isn't far behind either.

Around 30 or so left in the peloton up this climb.

Cepeda is with Sivakov at the front now. A minute between them and peloton as Boasson Hagen is caught.

Two teammates left for Pogačar at the front – Wellens and Bennett.

Another acceleration from Sivakov and Cepeda is off the back again.

27km to go

Only 15 men in the peloton.

24km to go

Sivakov sees Cepeda rejoin him on the way down.

50 seconds between the two leaders and the peloton. Guerreiro and Sobrero are still in between the groups.

Another climb coming up, this time unclassified.

After that it's the Fuentes de Cesna (4.3km at 4.7%) and one last descent before the 1km climb to the finish at a 5.8% average.

The leaders hit the hill and Sivakov puts in another acceleration. Cepeda gone once again.

21km to go

Sivakov has just 25 seconds on the peloton now.

Guerreiro still hanging in front of the peloton. He's just about to get caught, though.

Mohorič and Sobrero hanging on at the rear of the peloton. All the big GC names still in there.

19km to go

No massive rush for the peloton to make the catch at the moment. The gap has crept up to 50 seconds now.

Over the top of the climb for Sivakov.

17km to go

Cepeda is caught by the peloton. Just one man left to catch.

UAE still lead the chase with two men ahead of Pogačar. Will we see a repeat of the result from the opening two stages later?

Sivakov starts the third-category Alto Fuentes de Cesna (4.3km at 4.7%) now, the final classified climb of the day.

15km to go

He still has around 30 seconds.

George Bennett pushing the pace in the peloton. We're waiting for the surely inevitable Pogačar attack on this climb.

Five men from Bahrain line up behind the UAE trio. A big presence in the peloton.

The riders are midway up the climb now. No moves yet.

13km to go

Mohorič goes and Pogačar responds!

It's not the steepest ramp here, so they didn't get a huge gap.

And now the peloton is back together.

22 seconds to Sivakov.

Pogačar goes to the front again.

And now another move from Bahrain as Haig pushes on. No response.

Huge attack by Pogačar!

He came from behind to speed past everyone! Mas goes with him.

12km to go

Pogačar and Mas fly past Sivakov. Breakaway over.

The climb is nearly done, though, so the Ineos man might be able to catch back on.

Maybe not. Sivakov is back in the peloton, though the group isn't far behind the two leaders.

They're over the top now. Only around 6-7 in the chase.

Landa, Buitrago, Geoghegan Hart, Rodríguez, Rota, Kron are in the chase group with Sivakov.

Mas and Pogačar fly down the descent. No time gap yet but it looks around 5-10 seconds.

9km to go

A small rise in the road and Pogačar pushes on. Mas follows.

The TV time gap says 15 seconds but it's not that much...

A few riders have come across to the chase group, including Tsgabu Grmay (Jayco-AlUla).

7km to go

No change in situation yet. Pogačar and Mas still flying down the descent!

Everyone staying upright on the way down so far.

It's a slender lead for Pogačar and Mas but they're not getting caught here.

Pogačar leading Mas into the final 4km. 

The chasers remain at just 5-10 seconds back.

Mohorič has come across! He's a great descender so that's not a huge surprise.

Three up front now.

3km to go

A crash in the chase. Rodríguez loses it on a tight bend and holds up half the group!

He's quickly back up and running and looks fine.

Now the chase has split apart as they start climbing again.

2km to go

Pogačar and Mas are alone again at the front having dispatched with Mohorič on the early slopes of this finale.

Landa and Kron have made it up to the two leaders!

Lorenzo Rota is up there too.

Five leaders now. Pogačar on the front.

Another short descent before the final kilometre-long kick up to the finish line.

1km to go

And here we go! The final battle for the stage win!

Mas leads Pogačar onto the climb. They've left the rest behind!

Mas and Pogačar are flying up the hill.

No separating these two yet.

Landa and Rota chase back on.

Very steep stuff in this section.

Pogačar goes! But he can't get past Mas

Now he sneaks past on the narrow streets to the line!

And Mas has no answer! It's yet another win for Pogačar, who goes clear on the final run to the finish.

UAE Team Emirates and Tadej Pogačar have completely dominated this race!

The winner may have been fully predictable but that was a thrilling finale to stage 4.

Pogačar vs Mas in the final.

We'll have the full stage report up shortly.

Tadej Pogačar celebrates his third win in four days!

Here's what Pogačar said after the finish...

"Today was a really hard day. We had a big crash in the beginning where Rafał Majka fell hard and the group split. Everybody tried to attack us from the start. It was hard to control. The guys did an amazing job.

"Once the break formed it was still dangerous and we tried to control it. We worked so hard and I was really happy to take the win because the guys deserve it. The team is perfect but we're getting tired because everybody tries to attack us. From the start, they tried to put us in a weak spot.

"The possibilities [to win] are good but tomorrow is still a really hard day. If it's like today we need to be prepared from the start and keep focussed."

Tadej Pogacar wins yet again on stage 4 of the Vuelta a Andalucia

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