Frisky Dan Martin throws himself into mix against Vuelta sprinters

Dan Martin imposes himself in the sprint finish from a much depleted peloton at the Vuelta, showing he is full of beans; see here third rider from the left.

As if to underline his intent on this race after going so close to a stage win yesterday, Dan Martin threw himself into the hunt again on today’s stage 4 of the Vuelta a Espana.

The Garmin-Sharp climber mixed it up with some of the very fastest men in the game in the 60-rider sprint that decided the 165km stage from Mairena del Alcor to Córdoba; eventually coming home in 5th place.

And he would perhaps have done a little better had he not found himself on the front of the group too early and been forced to stall until some of the others opened the gallop.

After the day’s early breakaway efforts were caught, it was the trains of Orica GreenEDGE and Giant Shimano that assumed control on the front; the former trying to set up race leader Michael Matthews for consecutive stage wins and the latter working for John Degenkolb.

With around 1km remaining and as Martin sat in around 15th position; world time trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) made a bid to go clear off the front of the group; depleted by the pace up two categorized climbs in the last 60km.

However, when Tony Martin failed to open a gap and then pulled over before it was time for the others to kick, Dan Martin found himself on the front and looking around for somebody to take it up.

And when those just behind him did so, they got a slight jump on the Garmin-Sharp star, whose explosive climbing kick has in the past proven a very handy sprint, even on a flat finish.

Degenkolb simply powered to victory, having plenty of time to celebrate his win, with Dan Martin in 5th place. Matthews was 3rd and retains his lead overall, with Ireland’s Martin now 20th overall, some 43 seconds down.

The only other Irishman in the race, Philip Deignan was called into action for Team Sky early in the day in chasing down the main escape. He came home in a group 8:13 down.

Stage 4: Mairena del Alcor - Córdoba (165km)

General Classification

1 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica Greenedge 13:30:44
2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:08
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:15
4 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:00:19
5 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale 0:00:21
6 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica Greenedge
7 George Bennett (NZl) Cannondale 0:00:24
8 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Trek Factory Racing
9 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:27
10 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
11 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
12 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team 0:00:29
13 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
14 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:00:34
15 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:35
20 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 0:00:43
92 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky 0:10:44