La Vuelta 2025: Super-sub Ben Turner stuns big name sprinters on Stage 4 as David Gaudu takes red jersey from Jonas Vingegaard
Updated 26/08/2025 at 18:22 GMT+1
David Gaudu took over at the top of the general classification at La Vuelta after replacing Jonas Vingegaard in the red jersey on count-back. But Tuesday's stage was all about Britain's Ben Turner, who was overcome with emotion after taking a stunning sprint win, despite only being called up on the eve of the race. It was just Turner's third victory of his career - and by far the biggest.
Highlights: Turner secures stunning first Grand Tour stage win as Gaudu takes red
Video credit: TNT Sports
Late call-up Ben Turner stunned Jasper Philipsen and the big-name sprinters on Stage 4 at La Vuelta as David Gaudu took the red jersey on count-back.
The Frenchman, who had been level on time with Jonas Vingegaard before the stage, tried first to take red at the intermediate sprint, but knew he only needed to finish eight places ahead of the Dane at the finish.
It was the Vuelta's final day outside of Spain, starting in Italy and finishing in France.
Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) soared to victory ahead of Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who got boxed in behind his own lead-out man Edward Planckaert in the sprint finish.
The Brit was drafted directly from the Renewi Tour into the Vuelta with barely 24 hours' notice after team-mate Lucas Hamilton withdrew due to illness.
Despite containing almost 3000m of elevation - with all but a few of the climbing metres packed into the first half - the longest stage of the race was touted by many as a rare one for the few pure sprinters in the field. Unless Lidl-Trek had designs on a different outcome.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/26/image-975aeb47-7b93-4a25-b4c9-80b6c86b3127-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'He might beat them!' - Turner gets his big moment with shock Stage 4 win
Video credit: TNT Sports
After allowing an unthreatening five riders up the road, the American team did indeed send their riders to the front. Rather than put the likes of Philipsen under pressure on the long ascent to the race's second highest point, they rode an even tempo and kept the peloton together.
Escapees Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost), for the second day in a row, plus Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step), Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Kamiel Bonneu (Intermarche-Wanty) and Sinuhe Fernandez (Burgos Burpellet BH) were granted enough freedom to hoover up the mountains points, but not to present a true challenge to the stage.
At the top of the Col du Lautaret, Nicolau duly became the new KOM-in-waiting.
On the long descent, the impetus leaked out of the break, allowing a three-minute lead to evaporate before they reached the valley floor. Fernandez, not for the first time this week, hit out for some solo time and the combativity prize, only to be brought to heel before the intermediate sprint.
The bonus seconds on offer there offered Gaudu an outside chance at seizing the jersey outright. He and his team duly looked to contest the sprint, but they were just beaten by stronger straightline riders. Another chance would come a mere 30km down the road.
After Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) enjoyed a short spell of solo time, the race was all set up for the forecast bunch sprint. Alpecin-Deceuninck took up their place as the strongest sprint team, while backing off and allowing others, including Ineos and Arkea-B&B Hotels, to clear the road.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/26/image-f9747ac4-0f7e-4d88-9155-3ce9bfd95f4a-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Crazy feeling' - Emotional Turner on shock sprint win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Under the flamme rouge and with one corner to come, Alpecin was the only team left with a lead-out and it looked like theirs to lose. They lost it.
Turner came from fifth or fourth at the last corner, as Edward Planckaert delivered Jasper Philipsen into the straight. It was only those three and Ethan Vernon in it with 150m to go. Turner used Vernon to slingshot himself around the outside right, as the British rider picked the wrong line and Philipsen found himself blocked by his own team-mate.
The door shut and Philipsen was unable to start his sprint when he needed to. At 25m from the line, Turner had a clear lead. The Belgian battled back but ran out of road. The winning margin was almost a full bike length at the line.
- Vingegaard: Pogacar already the greatest in cycling history
- Bike thieves strike Vuelta: Visma truck raided in night-time heist
An elated Turner spoke afterwards of the "crazy feeling" but also of his devastation at missing out "in the first sprint when my chain came off, but I really believed in myself today."
Having been delivered into position by multi-Grand Tour stage winner Michal Kwiatkowski, his team had shown just as much confidence in their rider's ability to deliver.
David Gaudu did enough to distance himself from Jonas Vingegaard and swap places with the Dane at the top of the standings going into Wednesday's team time trial, taking place in Salvador Dali's hometown of Figures. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) picked up enough points across the intermediate sprint and the stage finish to move ahead of Vingegaard in the green jersey stakes. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) remains in the white jersey for best young rider.
- - -
Stream La Vuelta live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement