Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) doesn’t waste any time. The Netherlands national champion claimed on Tuesday his first Grand Tour stage win in El Puig, four days before turning 23 years old. The Irish champ Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) came close but a few millimetres prevented him from taking a second victory in two days and Max Walscheid (Team Sunweb) came third on the line. Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb) made it safely to the finish to retain La Roja while Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma) abandoned on the eve of the first mountain stage of La Vuelta 19.
The 175 riders who finished stage 3 also start stage 4 in Cullera. Two of them attack from the gun: Jelle Wallays (Lotto Soudal), who won a stage through a breakaway at La Vuelta 18, and Jorge Cubero (Burgos-BH), one of the most aggressive riders from last year’s edition. They open a gap as high as 7’ after 30km and Sam Bennett’s Bora-Hansgrohe move to the front of the bunch to control the break.
Kruijswijk abandons, Uran crashes
The first shock of the day happens halfway through the stage with the abandon of Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma). The Dutch rider was one of the main favorites for the overall victory but his team reports he suffers from a sore knee and couldn’t keep going.
Fabio Jakobsen’s Deceuninck-Quick Step join the chase as the race enters the last 100km. The gap steadily decreases: 3’50” with 82km to go, 2’05” with 63km to go and 1’15” when Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First) crashes with 57km to go. The Colombian rider quickly gets back on his bike and returns to the bunch with his teammates’ help. He requires assistance from the medical car to receive treatments on his left arm.
The Wolfpack surges
Jelle Wallays sets a strong pace in the only climb of the day, the Puerto del Oronet, and the gap is back up to 1’55” at the summit (km 129.5). Jorge Cubero sustains a mechanical with 31km to go and Wallays remains alone at the front with a lead of 1’20”. The Belgian rider is eventually caught 18km away from the finish.
Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) jumps ahead of the bunch with 5.5km to go. The pack catches him 1.2km away from the line and Fabio Jakobsen’s train take over to lead the young Dutch sprinting star to a maiden victory on his first Grand Tour.
