Tadej Pogacar wins Vuelta stage four with 50 km solo raid in Andorra

Long-range attack on the Collada de Beixalis

Stage four of the 81st Vuelta a Espana covered 104.8 kilometres in Andorra, starting and finishing in Andorra la Vella. Tadej Pogacar launched a solo attack with 50 kilometres remaining on the steepest slopes of the Collada de Beixalis, a first-category ascent spanning 6.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.6%. Felix Gall of Decathlon CMA CGM was the only rider to follow the initial acceleration, but the Austrian dropped back after several hundred metres. Pogacar crested the summit alone with a lead of one minute and 30 seconds over a group containing Gall, Primoz Roglic, Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, and Oscar Onley. The move marked Pogacar's longest solo victory in a Grand Tour, surpassing his 43-kilometre solo raid over the Col du Tourmalet at the Tour de France and earlier long-range attacks at the 2019 Vuelta and 2024 Giro d'Italia.

Early Pyrenean climbs and weather turnaround

The stage ran in warm and sunny weather with temperatures slightly exceeding 20 degrees Celsius, providing a sharp contrast to stage three, which organizers cancelled due to a severe hailstorm. The route took the peloton across three first-category climbs and one third-category pass in the Pyrenees, terrain familiar to numerous riders who reside in Andorra. Competition opened on the Port d'Envalira, a 24.4-kilometre climb averaging 5%, where Cian Uijtdebroeks struggled early after crashing on Sunday. An 18-rider breakaway formed on the lower slopes, but Decathlon CMA CGM paced the peloton aggressively in support of Gall, catching the escapees with 70 kilometres remaining. Lorenzo Fortunato of Astana reached the summit of the Port d'Envalira first to claim mountain classification points, while Pogacar stayed in the third peloton approximately 32 seconds behind the pace group.

Fractured pursuit over Ordino and La Comella

Behind Pogacar, the chasing group split repeatedly across the remaining climbs of the stage. Gall attacked again on the Coll d'Ordino, a 10-kilometre climb averaging 7%, with Onley following before Roglic of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Mas of Movistar bridged the gap. 2023 Vuelta winner Sepp Kuss connected with the chasing quartet before the summit of Ordino. On the fourth climb of the day, the Alto de la Comella, Gregor Muhlberger and 20-year-old Belgian rider Jarno Widar of Lotto-Intermarche joined the chase. Embret Svestad-Bardseng also contributed pace-making efforts in the pursuit. Despite coordinated riding behind him, Pogacar extended his lead to three minutes and 12 seconds before the final ascent, holding his advantage through the fast descent into Andorra la Vella.

Stage classification and overall standings

Pogacar reached the finish in Andorra la Vella in 2:40:35, securing his first stage victory while wearing the red leader's jersey that he has held since stage one. Widar won the sprint from the chasing group to finish second, two minutes and 39 seconds behind Pogacar, with Gall crossing in third place. Irish competitors Eddie Dunbar of Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and Darren Rafferty of EF Education-EasyPost finished 42nd and 96th respectively. In the general classification, Pogacar now holds a lead of 3:21 over four-time Vuelta winner Roglic, with Mas sitting in third place, 11 seconds behind Roglic and 3:32 off the lead. Pogacar, who entered the race following a fifth Tour de France victory, also leads the points and mountains classifications after four stages.