FIGUERES, Spain – Great Britain’s Ben Turner seized his maiden Grand Tour stage victory with a remarkable sprint finish on stage four of the Vuelta a España. The Ineos Grenadiers rider powered past Jasper Philipsen and Edward planckaert of Alpecin-Deceuninck in the final meters.
Turner’s unexpected triumph highlights the unpredictable nature of cycling’s biggest races.
Ben Turner secured his first Grand Tour stage win in a dramatic sprint finish at the Vuelta a España.
- Ben Turner claimed his first Grand Tour stage win.
- The stage started in Italy and concluded in France.
- David Gaudu retains the overall lead.
- ethan vernon finished fourth on his birthday.
Turner, a late replacement for teammate Lucas Hamilton, delivered a stunning performance on a long, ascending finish. Fellow Englishman Ethan Vernon of Israel-Premier Tech finished fourth, celebrating his 25th birthday.
The 206-kilometer stage, the longest of this year’s Vuelta, presented a challenging parcours with over 3,000 meters of climbing, primarily concentrated in the first half. After navigating two category two climbs, an early breakaway was absorbed by the peloton with 90 kilometers remaining, thanks to strong efforts on the descents.
Did you know? – the Vuelta a España is one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. It’s known for its challenging mountain stages and passionate fans.
Jasper Philipsen, initially positioned well behind his teammate Edward Planckaert, found himself boxed in as Turner and Vernon moved alongside. Despite finding a gap, he couldn’t match the raw power of the 6-foot-4-inch Turner.
What was Ben Turner’s reaction to his victory? Turner was visibly emotional, breaking into tears after crossing the finish line, describing the win as “a crazy feeling” and acknowledging the support of his teammates.
Pro tip: – Cyclists often conserve energy by drafting behind other riders, reducing wind resistance. This tactic is crucial during long stages like those in the Vuelta.
“Today I just had the best guys around me and I did what I had to do,” Turner said. “It was the perfect finish for me and I really believed in what I could do on it. The last 100m felt so long. I was devastated in the first sprint when my chain came off but I really believed in myself today.”
In the overall standings, France’s David Gaudu, the winner of stage three, holds the red jersey. He secured the lead over Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard on count-back due to his higher placings on earlier stages.
This stage marked the fourth occasion this vuelta a España has vent
