The first, and possibly last chance for the sprinters at the Volta a Catalunya 2024 became Marijn van den Berg’s prey. The Dutch EF Education-EasyPost sprinter just edged out Arne Marit (Intermarché – Wanty) and Emils Liepins (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) on a 169.2-kilometer course between Sort and Lleida.
The sprinters had their chance in the Catalan round, after three difficult mountain stages. After the start in Sort, the Port d’Ager (3.9 km at 6.8%), a second category pass, was the only climb of the day.
Immediately after the start, the breakaway of the day was formed, led by Belgian Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny), Norwegian Idar Andersen (Uno-X Mobility) and Spaniard Urko Berrade (Team Kern Pharma), but they were all caught at the end.
After the breakaway was neutralized, just before the intermediate sprint, the number three of the day, Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) took the three-second bonus. The other favorites did not interfere.
In the final stretch, Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) had the opportunity to show off for the cameras, the Spaniard stole the show in the final kilometers, but was also caught before entering Lleida.
At the finish, Colombian Egan Bernal put on the overalls to place Ethan Hayter, but going into the final kilometer Lotto Dstny took control, bringing Jarrad Drizners into an ideal position.
The Australian was soon passed by Bryan Coquard, but he in turn was also passed by Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost), who held off his rivals to celebrate his first win of the season. All the Colombians entered the bunch without mishap.
The 103rd edition of the Catalan round will continue this Friday with its fifth stage, an undulating 167.3-kilometer stage between Altafulla and Viladecans, which includes two second-category mountain prizes.
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (2.UWT)
Results Stage 4 | Sort – Lleida (169,2 km)
| 1 | Marijn van den Berg | EF Education – EasyPost | 3:40:19 |
| 2 | Arne Marit | Intermarché – Wanty | ,, |
| 3 | Emīls Liepiņš | Team dsm-firmenich PostNL | ,, |
| 4 | Bryan Coquard | Cofidis | ,, |
| 5 | Axel Laurance | Alpecin – Deceuninck | ,, |
| 6 | Cyril Barthe | Groupama – FDJ | ,, |
| 7 | Ethan Hayter | INEOS Grenadiers | ,, |
| 8 | Dorian Godon | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | ,, |
| 9 | Orluis Aular | Caja Rural – Seguros RGA | ,, |
| 10 | Jacopo Mosca | Lidl – Trek | ,, |
Tadej Pogacar, líder sólido de la Volta a Catalunya 2024. (Foto © UAE)
Ranking General
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | 17:18:31 |
| 2 | Mikel Landa | Soudal Quick-Step | 2:27 |
| 3 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 2:55 |
| 4 | Lenny Martinez | Groupama – FDJ | 3:21 |
| 5 | Chris Harper | Team Jayco AlUla | 3:22 |
| 6 | Enric Mas | Movistar Team | 3:27 |
| 7 | Wout Poels | Bahrain – Victorious | 3:31 |
| 8 | Sepp Kuss | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 3:32 |
| 9 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 3:50 |
| 10 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates | 3:52 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico