31 August 2010
The fourth stage of the Tour of Spain from Malaga on the Spanish coast to Valdepeñas de Jaén has been an eventful one on a difficult course. After the first 25 kilometres it was a lumpy mountain stage with three ranked category climbs. The weather was very hot again. Gastric problems have hit Team Sky and two riders couldn't start today. Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank suffered a puncture, and the riders commented on the difficulty of the steep uphill finish. Luis Leon Sanchez told Cyclingnews, “The finish is much harder than yesterday’s."
The riders finished in Malaga yesterday on a short, sharp climb of 1.8 kilometres after a stage that claimed some big names.
Stage 4 Winner Igor Anton of Euskatel-Euskadi
Stage 4 was 183.8 kms from near sea level in Malaga to 910 metres at Altos de Zafarraya, the first category 2 climb. The next climb was the 1,040 metre Montefrío, category 3, and the last the 1,090 metre Valdepeñas de Jaén, a category 2 climb just 8 kilometres before the finish line. The last kilometre of the race was no less difficult with sections at a 15% gradient.
