Fernando Gaviria UAE Team Emirates won his second stage of the Vuelta a San Juan today, beating three-time world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) into second place.
The Colombian sprinter won the 185.8-kilometre fourth stage to San Josè de Jachal-Villa San Augustin after solid work by UAE Team Emirates with young Italian Simone Consonni launching the Colombian captain towards the win.
Gaviria remains second overall in the general classification, now at eight seconds from Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step). Gaviria’s team mates Valerio Conti sits in third at 22″ with Consonni, seventh at 44″. UAE Team Emirates maintains control of the team classification thanks to their positions.
“It’s great to win a second time here, paying back the work of the team who fought those other teams and helped me for the sprint finish. Thanks to my team-mates for their support,” Gaviria said. “It was a high level sprint, against serious rivals like Sagan and Hodeg. The team was perfect in the approach of the last curve, then Consonni was very good at launching me.
“It was a special stage, because here one year ago I went home in an ambulance.
“I will try to enjoy the rest day and then we will see what happens on the stage to Alto Colorado. I’ll try to hold on, the general classification is difficult but I’ll try. Much will depend on my legs on the climb, but I’m only eight seconds from the leader so I’m going to push as much as possible.”
Stage 4 results
1 Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) 4h20’26”
2 Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) s.t.
3 Alvaro Hodeg (Deceuninck-Quick Step) s.t.
4 Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
General classification after stage 4
1 Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 11h35’42”
2 Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) 8″
3 Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) 22″
