Volta ao Algarve stage 4 Live – sprinters hope for control on hilly parcours

140KM REMAINING

The gap now is 7-35. It’s plateaued – perhaps that is as high as it will get. 

The riders have already spent much of the day going uphill, but nothing especially severe. Things will get harder soon, when they begin the frist official climb of the day, the category two Malhão.

They’re still taking it very easy in the peloton. They’ve now allowed the gap to grow to over seven minutes.

150KM REMAINING

And still the gap grows. It’s up to 5-30 – which I think is greater than any advantage of any stage of the race this year. 

The peloton has really sat up. They’ve already allowed the break four minutes.

There’s lots of cycling action from around the world happening today – including at the UAE Tour, where the penultimate stage has just finished. 

Given the hillier parcours, we might have expected more of a battle to get into that break, as you sense the chances of it surviving to the finish is higher than previous stages. But with only four men in it, the peloton should be able to keep control.

160KM REMAINING

1-55 for the four leaders. They will be our break of the day.

That quartet has a lead of 35 seconds. It seems we might have our break of the day already. 

The other three riders are Johan Jacobs, Gorka Sorarrain and Warre Vangheluwe.

Four men are now up the road, and the King of the Mountains German Nicolás Tivani is among them.

Nobody has managed to go clear so far.

175KM REMAINING

And they’re off!

Conditions are a little milder than they have been in previous days, with the temperature at 15 degrees.

Jarrad Drizners of Lotto has also not made it to the start today. 

There is one non-starter today: Iúri Leitão of Caja Rural – Seguros RGA.

The riders on on their bikes and making their way slowly through the neutralised zone. They will be seeing the flag soon.