Danny Martin Wins Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Fourth Stage

Last updated : 21 March 2013 By Covsupport News Service

Ireland's Danny Martin won the fourth stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

The longest stage of the race at 217.7kms long from Llanars-Vall de Camprodon to Port Ainé-Rialp saw a couple of early attacks which were brought back by the 28kms mark.

Twenty three riders in Betancur, Aru, Ten Dam, Kruijswijk, Santaromita, Salerno, Astarloza, Pichon, Hesjedal, Losada, Trofimov, Van de Walle, Herrada, Brambilla & Verona,  Kiserlovski, Pate, Ruijgh, Arroyo, Bagot, Molard as well as Irish cousins Danny Martin and Nicholas Roche, then seized on their chance to escape the clutches of a peloton marshalled by race leader Alejandro Valverde and third placed Sir Bradley Wiggins who was ten seconds back on GC.

Their lead had gone out to 2.40 but after 110kms, it was back to the two minutes mark.

On a fast downhill section just before the Tour De France Centenary Sprint, there was a crash and this took out Valverde and Capecchi, who were both forced to abandon the race.

Riders started to drop out of the front group with Van de Walle, Aru Brambilla, Pate. Molard and Ruijg all dropping back into the peloton which was 2.20 behind with 50kms to go.

On the penultimate climb of the day, Team Saxo-Tinkoff's Nicholas Roche got away. The Irishman had a lead of ninety seconds as he took on the final climb which had 12% gradients.

Roche was caught by Danny Martin (pictured below) who took the three seconds sprint bonus, Herrade, Kiserlovski and Txurruka who took over at the front inside the final fifteen kilometres.

Inside the final ten kilometres and Martin was tapping out a rhythm on the pedals at the front followed by Herrada. 

Martin shred Herrada and ploughed on as Bradley Wiggins came up with Nairo Quintana to the front of the peloton with 3.6kms on roads with snow on either side.

The Movistar rider Quintana set off after Martin, who would ride himself into the lead if he were to win the stage with 2.6kms to go.

Martin was a minute and two seconds ahead with 1.4kms to go. Joaquin Rodriquez came up to join Quintana, Van Den Broeck and Gesink.

Martin started to pedal faster and faster as the road dropped to around a gradient of 5% and he was able to take the win in a time of 6.02.40. 

The riders started to come in 35 seconds down with Rodriquez second, Quintana third, Van den Broeck fourth and Gesink fifth. 

Martin takes the leaders jersey and leads Rodriquez by 10 seconds,  Quintana by 32 seconds. Bradley Wiggins is fourth 36 seconds back.  

 

 

 

 

 Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM