Faulkner wins Vuelta stage as Vos takes red jersey

Joe Rindl

BBC Sport journalist

1 hour ago

Kristen Faulkner won stage four of Vuelta Femenina in Zaragoza as Marianne Vos took the red jersey from Kata Blanka Vas.

American Faulkner attacked from five kilometres out on the day’s final climb and held on to win solo, 10 seconds ahead of a group of 17 riders.

Australia’s Georgia Baker finished second, outsprinting third-placed Vos, who has a five-second lead at the top of the general classification standings.

Faulkner’s victory was the 31-year-old’s first at the Vuelta, although she won two stages at the Giro d’Italia Donne in 2022.

Her EF Education-Cannondale team recorded their second stage victory at this year’s tour after Alison Jackson sprinted to victory on Monday.

“I knew that climb would be a place where a lot of teams would try to attack – Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini attacked and I was right on their wheel,” said Faulkner.

“I knew this was the counter I had to go on. It was right before the climb and it was a great moment. It was a bit of luck and planning I think.”

Dutch rider Vos, who started the day one second behind Vas in the general classification standings, took the virtual red jersey after winning six bonus seconds to her Hungarian rival’s four at the intermediate sprint in Santa Fe, 10km from the finish.

She gained further bonus seconds at the finish line thanks to her third-placed finish.

Faulkner moved up from 22nd to third overall, nine seconds behind the 36-year-old Vos.

In the eight-stage tour on Thursday, riders will take on a 113km mountainous stage between Huesca and Jaca.