Adam Yates takes first win of the season on stage 4 of O Gran Camiño

With an all-conquering solo attack on the final climb, Adam Yates won stage 4 of O Gran Camiño and moved into the lead of the race. Making his move with 3.8km to go, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG climber only extended his advantage to the line, picking up his first win of the season.

The Briton proved the strongest rider on the steep slopes of the Alto de Cabeza de Meda, and crossed the line some 46 seconds ahead of the second-placed Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma-Lease a Bike). In doing so, Yates takes a 34-second lead over the young Norwegian into Saturday’s final stage, with teammate Kevin Vermaerke also well placed in 10th overall.

On Friday’s final climb, it was the American of UAE Team Emirates-XRG who made the first attack. With two riders up the road, Vermaerke bridged across to the pair on the climb’s lower slopes. Stretching out for 5.1km at 9.4%, however, the Alto de Cabeza de Meda was always bound to draw the general classifiction contenders into a mano-el-mano showdown.

Recognising the opportunity that lay before him, Yates, who started the day in fourth overall, moved alongside Vermaerke and then attacked from the leading group with 3.8km to ride. It was a probing acceleration to begin with, but the 33-year-old soon found himself with nobody for company, and despite the resistance of the likes of race leader, Alessandro Pinarello (NSN Cycling Team), Yates pushed on.

As the kilometres ticked by, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG only opened up his gap, dancing up the climb in his trademark out-of-the-saddle style. Rounding the final bend, it had long been apparent that Yates would prove the day’s winner, allowing the man from Bury the opportunity to sit up and consider his celebration.

Crossing the line as the stage 4 winner, Yates also took hold of the yellow leader’s jersey. With one more stage to come, he will hope to defend his lead on Saturday and take home another stage race victory for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

Yates: “It was a super nice day. Actually it was a hard day with a lot of climbing and technical roads. The guys did an amazing job and I managed to finish it off at the end.

“The climb at the end was super steep, and when it is this steep you don’t really feel the wind, so it was also quite hot. We went full gas from the bottom, it was a hard climb, a hard effort, and thankfully I was able to finish off the job.

“I showed today I was in good shape. There was a lot of pressure, not from the team but from a lot of guys, that expected me to perform today. So it was quite tricky to finish it off. I think tomorrow is also another day where we can put together a plan and hopefully try to win again.

“I am not comfortable in the race lead but I have been training super hard and super well. I knew the shape was there, I just needed to put everything together and finish off the job.”

O Gran Camiño stage 4 results:

1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 3:37:18

2. Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma-Lease a Bike) +46″

3. Alessandro Pinarello (NSN Cycling Team) +1:04

O Gran Camiño general classification after stage 4:

1. Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 11:01:54

2. Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma-Lease a Bike) +34″

3. Alessandro Pinarello (NSN Cycling Team) +54″

10. Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +3:10