France’s Calmejane takes Vuelta fourth stage

FRENCHMAN Lilian Calmemejane claimed his first everer professional stage win by breaking clear on a steepep category two climb at the end the fourth stage of the Vueltaelta a Espana on Tuesday.

Calmejane f i ni s hed the 163.5km ride from Betanzos os to San Andres de Teixido in a time of 4hr 05min 19sec, ahead d of Colombia’s Darwin Atapuma uma who takes over the overall lead of the race, with American ican Benjamin King third.

Atapuma leads by 29 seconds from Alejandro Valverde erde with Tour de France championpion Chris Froome four seconds nds further back in third.

A l l t he favou r ites for t he overa l l t it le, i nclud i ng Valverde, Froome, Nairo Quinta na a nd A lber to C o n t a d o r , f i n i s h e d toget her, t wo mi nutes and six seconds back on t he day a f ter a n ea rly breakawaybrea was never caught by t he peloton.

“This“T jersey is a dream I still haven’thav ta ken in, but it’s been a d rea m come t r ue,” BMC Racing’sRac Atapuma said.

“I came hoping to do well and I haveha to thank my teammates for workingw for me. I wanted to win a stage but there are still daysday ahead and we hope to havehav the jersey for as long as possible,pos as well as looking for a st stage win that I hope will comecom soon. “No“doubt Samu [Samuel Sanchez]S is the team leader,e but today they gave me freedomf and we were alert t o t he brea k away a nd completedc our goal.”

Calmejane (pictured, AFP) and Atapuma were in a group of 21 riders that broke clear of the peloton after the first of two category three climbs in the first half of the stage.

Having accumulated a more than sufficient lead to ensure they wouldn’t be caught, a series of attacks splintered the lead group on the climb up Mirador Vixia de Herbeira.

However, it was Calmejane’s attack that stuck as he moved into the lead with nine kilometres left and stayed clear to the finish.

He told Eurospor t: “It’s a ver y g reat feel i ng. To win a stage so early in t he Vuelta is just awesome.

“Today in my head was just the breakaway and to have no regrets. I saw [ Thomas] De Gendt was very strong in the group so I attacked.

“When I was alone, first in the race, I gave everything and it is wonderful. The goal was to win a stage, so now everything from here is a bonus.”

Atapuma moved into the lead after finishing second on the day, as overnight leader Ruben Fernandez failed to keep up with the race favourites in the peloton. After two days of tough climbs, yesterday’s fifth stage from Viveiro to Lugo was to offer flatter terrain with just one category three ascent.