Results
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.
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.
Latour has Igor Arrieta (Kern Pharma) with him.
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.
The latest news on Amy Pieters' situation as she recovers from her crash and brain injury
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bouncebacks and bunch sprints – 5 storylines to watch at the UAE Tour
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.
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.
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.
The gap to the peloton is still two minutes at the moment.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
Over the top of the climb for Sivakov.
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.
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.
It's not the steepest ramp here, so they didn't get a huge gap.
And now the peloton is back together.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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
Slovenian beats Mas in uphill duel to Iznájar
Stay tuned for more results and reports...
Today we'll have all the action from the Setmana Valenciana Fèmines, Volta ao Algarve, Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, and the UCI Esports World Championships.
Moolman Pasio sprints to stage 3 win at Setmana Valenciana
Skjelmose sprints to stage 2 win at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var
Tom Pidcock triumphs on Alto do Malhão at Volta ao Algarve
-
'I do this sport because I love it' – Amanda Spratt still finding new adventures in retirement season and 20th year of racing in Europe
Despite her imminent retirement, the Australian remains last focused on racing in 2026 -
Season delays for Jonas Vingegaard, Wout van Aert 'not a disaster' says Visma-Lease a Bike head of racing
Vingegaard set to start 2026 season in late March at Volta a Catalunya -
'It's UAE's to lose' – What the GC favourites expect on Jebel Hafeet with UAE Tour Women overall win up for grabs
Can Elisa Longo Borghini defend her title? Who will be her closest challengers? We asked the contenders
-
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana: Remco Evenepoel climbs into race lead and fifth victory of the year with another early-season display on stage 4
Belgian nets solo Queen stage victory ahead of João Almeida and teammate Giulio Pellizzari -
Superprestige Middelkerke: Michael Vanthourenhout returns to victory after missing Worlds
Vandeputte clinches series as Kuypers rounds out podium -
'You have to try something' to break Lorena Wiebes' sprint dominance, but EF Education-Oatly's efforts fall short at UAE Tour Women
Solo attacker Nina Berton had hoped for company in her stage 3 breakaway but insists you have to attack to beat Wiebes on flat stages
-
Étoile de Bessèges: Continental rider Joppe Heremans foils WorldTour riders to win stage 4
Kubiš keeps race lead with second on the stage ahead of Decathlon's Paul Lapeira -
Superprestige Middelkerke: Season's breakthrough rider Amandine Fouquenet takes final round as Van Alphen wins overall by tiny margin
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado second, Marie Schreiber third in final round as Fouquenet and Van Alphen finish on equal points overall -
UAE Tour Women: Untouchable Lorena Wiebes powers to third straight victory but pushed close by rivals in hectic stage 3 finish
Lara Gillespie narrowly beaten into second, Amalie Dideriksen third in Abu Dhabi Breakwater, but no one can stop Wiebes from a 121st career victory
