Stage 4 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 – the popular race in Catalonian territory – would take the riders through central Catalonia on a 188.7-kilometer route from Sant Vicenc de Castellet to Montserrat Millenari. It would be the first time in thirty years the Volta a Catalunya would see a stage finish in Montserrat.

Mountainous territory was dominating the stage profile as the race organizers were hoping for a battle between the cycling stars and general classification favorites on the route, which featured several uncategorized climbs, one Category 2 climb, and culminated on the Category 1 Montserrat climb to the finish line.

Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) was leading the general classification of Volta a Catalunya 2025 by six seconds following yesterday’s victory in the longest stage of this year’s race. Primoz Roglic was second in the GC for his Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe outfit, followed by Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) and Enric Mas (Movistar Team).

Riders had gathered at the start line of stage 4 in Sant Vicenc de Castellet, and it did not take long after the stage start before several attacks were launched from the peloton. The racing was dominated by high energy and furious competition between the riders for a spot in the long breakaway group of the day.

Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) abandoned the race after just thirty kilometers due to knee pain. 

Several breakaway attempts were made in the start phase of the stage only to be neutralized by the chasing peloton. A twelve-man group had established what appeared to be a viable lead after thirty-five kilometers of intense competition on the bikes.

The front group featured Lennard Kamna (Lidl-Trek), Johannes Staune-Mittet (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale), Geoffrey Bouchard (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale), Brieuc Rolland (Groupama-FDJ), Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ), Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), Frank van den Broek (Team Picnic-PostNL), Embret Svestad-Bårdseng (Arkea B & B Hotels), Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Jose Felix Parra (Equipo Kern Pharma), Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma), and Eric Antonio Fagundez (Burgos Burpellet BH).

The breakaway group had an advantage of 02:15 minutes after fifty-five kilometers of racing. They had added 25 additional seconds to their lead at the eighty-kilometer point. 

The front group was approaching the Turo del Puig climb (Category 2; 5.1 km; 5.4%) after 120 kilometers of racing. Steinhauser and Staune-Mittet attacked on the climb and built a gap of thirty seconds. Riders from Ineos-Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates were controlling the chase effort in the main peloton. 

The gap between the front duo and the main peloton was 03:24 minutes when 52 kilometers of stage 4 remained.

Heavy winds in the valley caused splits in the peloton and echelons to form. The speed was intense as the general classification favorites had ordered their teammates to reduce the advantage of the breakaway riders in time for the stage finale.

Steinhauser and Staune-Mittet were cooperating well and showing great determinism on their bikes. The duo was approximately one minute ahead of the remains of the original breakaway group when 35 kilometers remained of today’s mountain challenge on the roads of Catalonia. The peloton was 02:45 minutes back.

Kamna and Svedstad-Bardseng were caugt by the chasing peloton with fourteen kilometers left. Now four members of the original breakaway group were fighting between the front duo and the main peloton. All others had been reeled in. Riders from Soudal-QuickStep were leading the chase effort with Lidl-Trek and UAE Team Emirates.

The pace was intense as the riders approached the finale and the Category One climb to Montserrat where the stage winner would be crowned.

EF Education-EasyPost rider Steinhauser left Staune-Mittet behind on the Montserrat climb. The German rider was one minute ahead of the chasing peloton with 7.5 kilometers left of today’s battle on the bikes.

UAE Team Emirates riders took control at the front of the favorites group when six kilometers remained. Marc Soler was leading the chase effort at this point.

Geraint Thomas was dropped from the favorites group. The Welsh rider from Ineos-Grenadiers had worked hard for his teammates again today. Hopefully they would get the chance to repay the favor later this season.

Steinhauser’s advantage had been reduced to twenty-five seconds with four kilometers left. His chances of a stage win were not improving, and the GC favorites group appeared eager to complete their quest for a stage victory. At the three-kilometer mark they were nice seconds behind. All other riders from the breakaway had been caught.

Ben O’Connor was suffering at the back of the GC favorites group. Adam Yates was setting a very fast pace at the front of the group. 

Steinhauser was caught.

GC leader Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) attacked at the 2.5-kilometer mark. Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) responded as did Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe). Landa was unable to keep up with Ayuso and Roglic at first. 

Roglic attacked with 1.6 kilometers left. Ayuso closed the gap. The duo continued their climbing efforts.

Landa and other riders almost caught Roglic and Ayuso 600 meters from the finish line, but the duo accelerated. 

The stage would be decided in a sprint a deux between the two frontmen.

Primoz Roglic was the strongest rider and crossed the finish line as winner of stage 4 of Volta a Catalunya 2025. Juan Ayuso finished second, while Movistar’s Enric Mas completed the stage podium shortly later.

“I had something left in the end, so I won today,” stage winner Roglic told Roadcycling.com after the stage. “It was definitely not easy and more hard days are still to come. I’m in a good position and we’ll see how I finish in the end. The differences between the GC favorites are really small at the moment,” Roglic explained.

Primoz Roglic now leads Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 ahead of Juan Ayuso and Enric Mas before Friday’s stage 5.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 and the rest of the professional cycling season.