BARCELONA, 5 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Slovenian cyclist Matevz Govekar (Bahrain-Victorious) has won this Friday the fourth stage of the Vuelta a Burgos, between Torresandino and the Roman City of Clunia over 169 kilometers, being the best of the breakaway and in a day without changes in the general , with Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) still leading.
Govekar, only 22 years old and in his first year as a professional in Bahrain-Victorious, managed to debut his record with a short and explosive sprint on the final ramp of the climb to the Roman ruins of Clunia. An accurate attack with which he overcame his fellow escapees.
Despite the fact that Omer Goldstein (Israel-Premier tech) seemed to have an advantage, since the Frenchman Valentin Retailleau (AG2R Citroën Team) managed to overtake him, the Slovenian knew how to ‘tail the wheel’ and attack at the key moment to win the game.
In an uphill finish, although nothing compared to the explosiveness of the climb to Alto del Castillo or the harshness of Lagunas de Neila that will put the finishing touch to this round in Burgos, the Spaniards Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Lluís Mas (Movistar Team) had no choice despite being in the good breakaway, entering sixth and seventh respectively.
Already at 3:03 of the winner, the bunch of favorites entered, without attacks between the contenders for the final victory. Thus, the French Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) continues to lead with 23 seconds of margin over Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) and 26 over the trident formed by Ruben Guerreiro (EF), Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS) and Jai Hindley (BORA- hansgrohe).
They, plus a few surprise guests who may join the final party, will play for the final victory and to succeed Mikel Landa in the Burgos record in the fifth and final stage, with the final climb to Lagunas de Neila, a Special category of 12 kilometers at 6.2 percent on average and a very hard finish.