Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2018: Valverde wins Queen Stage and cements overall lead

The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana's Queen Stage travels over six intermediate climbs before the final haul up El Alto de las Canteras. The closing climb is 5 kilometres at 7.8%, while the last kilometre goes up at a brutal 12.3%. It's here Alejandro Valverde showcases his strength by rejoining attacker Adam Yates to power to victory, thus cementing his overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage 2018 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.04
3. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.05
4. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 0.09
5. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.10
6. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.11
7. Pelle Bilbao (spa) + 0.15
8. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.18
9. Kilian Frankini (swi) + 0.24
10. Ben Hermans (bel) + 0.30

GC after the 4th stage
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Luis León Sánchez (spa) + 0.14
3. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.26
4. Adam Yates (gbr) + 0.37
5. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 0.48
6. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.49
7. Pelle Bilbao(spa) + 0.54
8. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.57
9. Kilian Frankini (swi) + 1.03
10. Amaro Antunes (por) + 1.09

Race report
All attacks are neutralized until five riders give it a go at km 62. Two others jump across and the seven race to a lead of half a minute before one of them can’t follow the pace. Vasil Kiryienka, Reto Hollestein, Cristian Rodríguez, Héctor Sáez, Preben Van Hecke and Jon Ander Insausti push on to race to a maximum lead of 3 minutes.

Michal Kwiatkowski goes after the leaders with 60 kms left and he rejoins them after cresting the first climb to Benillup. Van Hecke, Sáez and Jon Ander Insausti are dropped so it’s down to four men at the front.

Astana speeds up with 20 kms remaining and Kiryienka is dropped from the front group. For a moment it’s seems to be too much for the other leaders, too, but they hold on to a 8 seconds lead. The gap bounces back to half a minute and Gautier, Vanmarcke and Visconti bridge across.

Visconti and Kwiat push on together before the Pole is dropped with 6 kms remaining. The Italian hits the last climb with a lead of 15 seconds.

Visconti is caught with 3 kms left to climb. This is where the steeper ramps appear. Adam Yates attacks and Valverde, LL Sánchez, Fuglsang en Roglic close the gap along with other riders. Group of ten at the front.

Yates once again goes on the attack in the last km. Valverde himself bridges across to leave the Briton behind. The Unbeatable is totally in control as he takes the stage. Just stay on his bike tomorrow and the overall victory is his.