Daniel Moreno takes lead in Burgos as Lloyd Mondory wins stage 4

Lloyd Mondory (Ag2r La Mondiale) won stage 4 of the Vuelta a Burgos on Saturday as Daniel Moreno (Katusha) took the overall lead from Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

Alexander Kolobnev (Katusha) and Biel Kadri (Ag2r) were off the front in the final kilometers of the 142km leg from Medina de Pomar to Villarcayo, with a lead of a dozen seconds, only to be swept up inside 3km to go.

In the finale, Mondory took the sprint ahead of Vicente Reynes (IAM Cycling) with Sebastien Turgot (Ag2r) third.

Moreno now leads on GC in a tie on time with Quintana, who going into the stage had a one-second advantage over the Katusha rider. David Arroyo (Caja Rural) is third overall at 37 seconds.

“This is nice. Nothing is decided yet but this leader’s jersey is already a beautiful compensation for my two second places in earlier stages this week,” said Moreno.

Team director José Azevedo told his riders to be attentive to the two corners in the last 500 meters, saying they could cause a split in the front group, said Moreno.

“I sprinted keeping that in my mind, as a precaution, not trying to cause a gap. Of course when I saw the gap behind me after the second corner, I sprinted full gas,” he added.

Sunday’s fifth and final stage is a 12.4km individual time trial in Aranda de Duero, and Moreno is determined to hold onto the jersey.

“Quintana and I are both climbers and not TT specialists. It will be an open battle tomorrow but I am motivated and will defend this jersey. I will start with the idea that I can win the race,” said Moreno.