Pogacar wins Vuelta stage 4, extends lead after Andorra solo

Tadej Pogacar delivered a dominant solo performance to win stage 4 of the Vuelta a España, attacking 50.5 km from the finish on the Collada de Beixalís and extending his overall lead to 3 minutes 21 seconds over Primoz Roglic Source: El Español, El Mundo. The stage, held in Andorra, was the first mountain test after the cancellation of stage 3 due to a hailstorm Source: El Colombiano.

The attack

Pogacar launched his decisive move on the steep ramps of the Collada de Beixalís, quickly dropping Felix Gall and the rest of the favorites. He soloed over the remaining climbs, including the Alto de Ordino and the Alto de la Comella, to finish in Andorra la Vella with a time of 2h 40m 35s, averaging 39.2 km/h Source: Infobae, Excelsior. Jarno Widar finished second and Felix Gall third, both 2 minutes 39 seconds behind Source: El Colombiano.

The reaction

Enric Mas, who finished second on the day, was praised for his brave pursuit, but Pogacar proved superior in the sprint Source: El Mundo. Pogacar downplayed the idea of chasing the record of 13 stage wins, saying, "No me lo planteo" Source: El Mundo. He also noted that the Vuelta has less pressure than the Tour, making it more enjoyable Source: Infobae.

What's next

Pogacar now leads Roglic by 3:21 and Mas by 3:32, with 17 stages remaining Source: El Español. He aims to lead the race from start to finish, a feat achieved only three times in Vuelta history Source: El Mundo. The next stage is a flatter route suited to sprinters Source: Excelsior.