CORDOBA, Spain (AP) β German rider John Degenkolb outsprinted Vicente Reynes and race leader Michael Matthews to win a hot, sunny fourth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Tuesday.
Degenkolb, who rides for Team Giant-Shimano, surged past Matthews and Reynes in the final kilometer of the hilly 164.7 kilometer (102 mile) ride from Mairena del Alcor to Cordoba.
The 23-year-old Matthews, riding for Orica GreenEdge, retained the overall leader’s red jersey. The Australian leads Colombian Nairo Quintana by eight seconds and Spain’s Alejandro Valverde by 15 seconds.
With some 35 kilometers left, two-time Vuelta winner Valverde broke away from the pack, followed by Winner Anacona of Colombia, Britain’s Adam Yates and Frenchman Romain Sicard.
The race then settled down as riders vied for tactical, team positioning until two kilometers from the finish.
