Volta ao Algarve 2014 - Stage 4

The Volta ao Algarve had its summit finish today on its fourth stage, a 164.5 kilometre stage from Almodovar to Alto do Malhao. The stage was billed as the day where the general classification would be given its final shake up, as tomorrow is a chance for the sprinters. Alberto Contador was a favourite, but world champion Rui Costa and race leader Michal Kwiatkowski were also likely to challenge. 

Despite the summit finish breakaways animated the stage, the first being an eight man break. Pablo Lastras and Paul Voss were part of that, but Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Tinkoff-Saxo weren't going to let the chance of a stage win slip through their fingertips. The break was easily brought back, and then Chris Horner (Lampre-Merida) tried his hand on the first ascent of the summit finish.

There was still around fifty kilometres to race, so the peloton had plenty of time to reel in the Vuelta champion. However, the effects of the increase in pace left Michal Kwiatkowski with just one teammate - Tony Martin. Another move went away in the final twenty kilometres containing Oscar Pujol of Skydive-Dubai, but Tinkoff-Saxo were particularly adament in not letting the breakaway clear.

Alberto Contador was guided to the front of the peloton at the base of the Malhao, and soon put a couple of probing accelerations at the head of affairs. Kwiatkowski was clearly struggling with this pace, and Contador put in the deciding acceleration in the final few hundred metres. He finished solo and won the stage, the second time he has won atop the Malhao.

Rui Costa finished three seconds down on El Pistolero, with race leader Michal Kwiatkowski finishing ten seconds down on Contador. The deficit means that Kwiatkowski is still race leader, with one stage remaining. Contador admitted that the general classification might be out of reach, but he will be relieved to take his first victory of the season, which will no doubt take the pressure off, especially as Christopher Froome also won today in Oman.