Home SPORTS Ben Turner Wins Vuelta Stage 4 in Thrilling Sprint Finish

Ben Turner Wins Vuelta Stage 4 in Thrilling Sprint Finish

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Ben Turner
Turner outsprints Philipsen for biggest career win at Vuelta

Ben Turner wins Stage 4 of Vuelta a España, David Gaudu takes overall lead. Get the latest cycling news and updates.


Britain's Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) outfoxed Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in a sprint finish to win stage four of the Vuelta a Espana on Tuesday...


Ben Turner pulled off an impressive upset in the fourth stage of the Vuelta a España, outmaneuvering Jasper Philipsen in a thrilling sprint finish to claim his first Grand Tour stage win. The British rider from Ineos Grenadiers timed his move perfectly, surging past Philipsen to cross the line first in Voiron, France.


The 206.7km ride from Susa, Italy, to Voiron proved to be a challenging course, featuring a mountainous start before flattening out in the final 120 kilometers. Despite the peloton's expectations of a sprint finish, Turner seized the opportunity to make his move, catching Philipsen off guard and securing the stage win.


Meanwhile, French climber David Gaudu capitalized on his chance to take the leader's red jersey from Jonas Vingegaard. Gaudu's strategy paid off as he finished the stage in a position that allowed him to vault Vingegaard in the overall standings, thanks to a countback advantage. The Frenchman's performance was a testament to his skill and determination, and he'll wear the red jersey for the next stage.


Stage Results

  • Stage Winner: Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers)
  • Red Jersey: David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
  • Notable Finishers: Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech) - 2nd place, Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) - 3rd place
  • Withdrawals: Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) and Carlos García Pierna (Burgos BH) did not finish the stage due to illness and other reasons, respectively.


Planckaert finished third, while Gaudu, winner of stage three, is the overall leader, still level on time with race favourite Vingegaard but moving ahead of the Dane on the countback.


An exhausted and emotional Turner broke down in tears, with the Briton realising he had just pulled off the biggest win of his career, in a Grand Tour he was not expecting to race.


Ben Turner was called up to join the Ineos Grenadiers team for the Vuelta a España at the last minute, replacing Lucas Hamilton who fell ill. This unexpected turn of events came after Turner impressed at the Tour de Pologne earlier in August, where he won the points classification. He had to leave the Renewi Tour on Thursday, and despite the chaos, Turner expressed his excitement about the opportunity.


“I don't know what to say to be honest, it was a crazy week, super crazy,” Turner said, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that led him to join the Vuelta. Despite initial issues with his leg since the Giro and the shock call-up, Turner credited his team for believing in him. “I wanted to come to the Vuelta, and I still had some issues with my leg since the Giro, but the team believed in me and I went to Renewi and then they said they needed me, so of course you say 'yeah'.”


The longest stage of the Vuelta featured two Category 2 climbs, testing the riders' endurance and tactical acumen. An early breakaway group formed, but their efforts were ultimately thwarted as the peloton reeled them in during the long descents, catching them with approximately 90km remaining.




As the stage neared its conclusion, French rider Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) launched a solo attack after the intermediate sprint, going for broke with 32km left to race. However, his daring move was neutralized 15km from the finish line, setting the stage for a thrilling bunch sprint to determine the winner. This intense finale showcased the riders' strategic maneuvering and raw speed.


Jasper Philipsen was poised for another win after his dominant performance on the opening stage, but it wasn't meant to be. Led out by teammate Edward Planckaert, Philipsen seemed set for a second triumph. However, he appeared to get caught behind Planckaert, allowing Ben Turner to seize the opportunity and power past him to the finish line.




Turner's surprise victory was met with overwhelming emotion. “It's just a crazy feeling,” he said, still reeling from the shock. He had experienced disappointment earlier in the race when his chain came off during the first sprint, but he persevered and believed in himself. “I was devastated in the first sprint when my chain came off, but I really believed in myself today,” Turner added, reflecting on his journey to the win.


The Vuelta a España kicks off its fifth stage with a 24.1km team time trial in Figueres, marking the race's entry into Spain. This stage promises to be a crucial test for the GC contenders, with teams vying for position and time bonuses.


David Gaudu in the Red Jersey
French rider David Gaudu of Groupama-FDJ now wears the coveted red jersey after a strategic performance on stage four. Gaudu needed to finish at least eight places ahead of Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike to take the lead, which he achieved by crossing the line in 25th place while Vingegaard finished 42nd. This development sets the stage for an intriguing team time trial, where Gaudu's team will aim to defend his lead.




Stage 5 Details

Distance: 24.1km
Start Location: Figueres
Finish Location:
Figueres
Start Time: 16:37 CEST
Finish Time: 18:30 CEST
Terrain: Virtually flat with a gradual rise of around 4% towards the finish


Team Contenders

Visma-Lease a Bike: Strong favorites with riders like Victor Campenaerts, Dylan van Baarle, and Jonas Vingegaard.

INEOS Grenadiers: Contenders with a strong TT lineup, including Filippo Ganna, Ben Turner, and Magnus Sheffield.

UAE Team Emirates: Boasting a solid team around GC leaders João Almeida and Juan Ayuso, with Mads Pedersen adding depth.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe: A strong team with Matteo Sobrero, Tim van Dijke, and Giovanni Aleotti.



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