Updated August 26, 2025 09:49AM
Vuelta a España Stage 4: Turner Denies the Sprint Bigs after Crazy Late Call-up to Race
Gaudu moves into GC lead on countback after finishing far enough ahead of Vingegaard in Voiron bunch sprint.
Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) stunned all the sprint bigs with an underdog win Tuesday at the Vuelta a España.
The young Brit came from several wheels back of an Alpecin-Deceuninck leadout with a meaty sprint that earned him by far the biggest win of his career.
Pre-race favorite Jasper Philipsen finished second, with his leadout man Edward Planckaert in third.
Alpha speedster Mads Pedersen (Mads Pedersen) was back in sixth.
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David Gaudu and overnight race-leader Jonas Vingegaard finished on the same time in the group.
However, Gaudu finished sufficiently far ahead of Vingegaard in the bunch to move to the top of the classification on accumulated countback. The two remain on the same time.
From Renewi to the Vuelta … to victory
Turner’s win is the high point of what’s been a wild few weeks.
The 26-year-old won for the first time in two years earlier this month at Tour de Pologne, and wasn’t even scheduled to race La Vuelta.
Turner had to scramble from Belgium after two days of racing last week’s Renewi Tour to replace Lucas Hamilton on Ineos’ Vuelta team.
The Aussie fell sick on the eve of the gran salida and left the squad one man short.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s been a crazy week,” Turner said at the finish, full of tears. “I wanted to come to the Vuelta but I had a lot of issues with my leg since the Giro.
“The team really believed in me, and I went to Renewi. Then they said they needed me so of course I said ‘yes.’ I’d do anything to race these races,” Turner continued.
“I was devastated on the first sprint when my chain came off, but I really believed in myself today. I felt really good … It’s amazing.”
Vuelta a España stage 4 quick results:
Sprint teams commit to one of few chances
Tuesday’s long stage out of Italy and into Voiron, France, started in the medium mountains, but was dead-set for the sprinters.
One hundred mostly flat kilometers separated the final descent of the day and the pan-flat finish.
Lidl-Trek, Israel-Premier Tech and Alpecin-Deceuncink fully commited to what was one of the few chances for the sprinters before La Vuelta reaches Madrid in two and a half weeks time.
Turner and an Ineos Grenadiers team centered around Egan Bernal sat back in the bunch and hoped for their chances.
American comeback king Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) starred in an early break that was reeled in mid-stage, and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon Ag2r-La Mondiale) tried a wildly speculative solo flyer in the final hour.
But the stage was only going one way.
Armirail was caught 16km from the finish before the Vuelta trains assembled for a French showdown between Gaudu and Vingegaard, and Philipsen, Pedersen, and the sprint outsiders – including Turner.
Up next: Late transfer to Spain for GC shifting team time trial
Gaudu will take his red jersey straight to Grenoble airport Tuesday night and fly to Spain for La Vuelta‘s return home.
The first Spanish stage of the race Wednesday is poised for a big brawl between UAE Emirates-XRG, Visma-Lease a Bike, and Lidl-Trek in a team time trial for big engines and GC contenders.
The gaps after the 24km stage will be minimal, but could be significant on the standings before the race hits the high mountains in Andorra later this week.
Gaudu and Groupama-FDJ will be under pressure from day one.
Vuelta a España stage 4 full results:
