Thomas de Gendt celebrate a solo victory on stage 4 of the Volta a Catalunya on Thursday. The Belgian was part of an early break in the day’s action
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Thomas de Gendt celebrate a solo victory on stage 4 of the Volta a Catalunya on Thursday.
The Belgian was part of an early break in the day’s action that took the peloton over 172 kilometres from Bagà to Port Ainé in the Pyrenees – this year’s queen stage.
De Gendt, who started the day almost 20 minutes down in the general classification, kept his calm when fellow breakaway companion Pieter Weening attacked the front group and opened up a minute’s lead.
But at the final 50 kilometre mark de Gendt established a new order to lead a fragmented break on the penultimate climb.
Within the final two kilometres de Gendt shot clear to take the win.
The Lotto Soudal rider eventually finished one minute and 0.8 seconds clear of title contender Nairo Quintana and Richie Porte with Quintana’s result moving him into the overall race lead.