Tour de San Luis 2014 - Stage 4

Stage four of the Tour de San Luis 2014 was always going to be a tough one, and it didn't disappoint earlier today. It was the race's second summit finish, coming at Cerro El Amago after a long 166.3 kilometres in Argentinian climate. 

The day's breakaway was relatively large considering the challenge that they faced, containing Matias Presa, Juan Ignacio Curuchet, Juan Arango, Julian Gaday and Jonathan Clarke. They were never going to impact on the race however, this was always going to be a day for the overall classification, and so it proved.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar), the runner-up at the 2013 Tour de France, rode away from the rest of the field on category one climb that hosted the stage finale, and ended up finishing fifty seconds in front of the next finisher, Sergio Godoy of San Luis Somos Todos. John Darwin Atapuma, BMC's new signing finished third, but he was more than a minute and a half down his fellow Colombian.

Quintana now trails race leader Phillip Gaimon of Garmin-Sharp by just four seconds, who managed to lose over three minutes on the stage. It is now unlikely that Gaimon will win the title, but he may gain some time back on Quintana, as tomorrow's stage is a nineteen kilometre time trial around the city of San Luis. 

As for Quintana, it is a tremendous start to the season as he looks to build on his podium finish at last year's Tour de France. He is currently undecided whether he will ride both the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana this year, or focus on the Tour de France. His final position in San Luis should go some way to deciding which option it will be.

Tomorrow's stage in Argentina is the tricky time trial around the city of San Luis. It should be a decisive one, Lanterne Rouge's pick is Taylor Phinney; the young American on BMC has already been showing good form in the sprints earlier in the week, and has already stated he is targetting the time trial. Join us tomorrow for the full round-up.