It was a day ripe for bold endeavours on the Queen stage at the Volta a Catalunya.

Volta a Catalunya, Stage 4, Bagà to Port Ainé, 172.2km 

Thomas de Gendt (Lotto- Soudal) powered up the final climb, sweeping past his one-time breakaway companion, Roompot’s Pieter Weening, to take a wonderful solo victory – his first in three years. Behind him the GC contenders duked it out for the overall lead. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) moved clear to take second place with BMC’s Richie Porte pipping Alberto Contador  (Tinkoff) for third and those all important bonus seconds. Don Nairo holds the GC by 8secs from Baby Blackbird and 17secs from L’il Richie.

Thomas and Padawan Louis Vervaeke…

Hugh Carthy  (Caja-Rural) finished 11th on the stage, 9th on GC and claims the best  young rider’s jersey

Highlights …

Links: Official site for Volta a Catalunya, Twitter #voltacatalunya

Featured Image: Stage winner Thomas de Gendt. Image from race website © Jon Herranz