CYCLING: American Ben King wins Stage 4 in Vuelta a Espana

“It’s a dream come true. I really can’t believe it. I didn’t start believing in it until the last kilometer, and I’m really happy for the way it worked out.”

That was 29-year-old American Ben King, who sprinted away on the final climb of Stage 4 at La Vuelta a Espana to win, the first stage victory for a U.S. rider at La Vuelta since Chris Horner in 2013.

“I’m happy for the confidence the team put in me, giving me the opportunity even though we’re riding here in support of Louis [Meintjes],” King said. “I set winning a Grand Tour stage as a goal for myself at the beginning of this year. It’s something I’ve had to keep believing in and have faith that I have that potential. This is really affirming.”

King and Nikita Stalnov (KAZ) broke free of a chase pack heading into the final climb of this 161.4 km, mountainous stage, finishing in Alfacar. With 400 m left, King made his move and secured the stage win, his fourth race win as a professional. He’d previously won the U.S. Time Trial title back in 2010, a 2015 stage in the Criterium International in France and a stage in the 2016 Amgen Tour of California. His prior best in a Grand Tour race was a third in a La Vuelta stage in 2016.

In the overall race standings, Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski remained in front, but just seven seconds ahead of Germany’s Emanuel Buchmann and 10 seconds up on Britain’s Simon Yates. Less than a minute contains the first 17 riders in the race so far.

The 21 stages include two time trials, five mountain stages, six hilly stages and six which are fairly flat. NBC’s Olympic Channel has daily coverage of La Vuelta, usually beginning at 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Summaries and stage notes:

UCI World Tour/La Vuelta a Espana
Spain ~ 25 August-16 September 2018
(Full results here)

Stage 1 (8.0 km Indiv. Time Trial): 1. Rohan Dennis (AUS), 9:39; 2. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL), 9:45; 3. Victor Campanaerts (BEL), 9:46; 4. Nelson Oliveira (POR), 9:56; 5. Dylan van Baarle (NED), 9:59. Also in the top 50: 15. Brent Bookwalter (USA), 10:02; … 21. Joey Rosskopf (USA), 10:07; … 24. Ben King (USA), 10:08.

Stage 2 (163.5 km): 1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), 4:13:01; 2. Kwiatkowski (POL), 4:13:01; 2. Laurens de Plus (BEL), 4:13:04; 4. Wilco Kelderman (NED), 4:13:04; 5. George Bennett (NZL), 4:13:04. Also in the top 50: 48. Ian Boswell (USA), 4:14:06.

Stage 3 (178.2 km): 1. Elia Viviani (ITA), 4:48:12; 2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA), 4:48:12; 3. Peter Sagan (SVK), 4:48:12; 4. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA), 4:48:12; 5. Simone Consonni (ITA), 4:48:12.

Stage 4 (161.4 km): 1. King (USA), 4:33:12; 2. Nikita Stalnov (KAZ), 4:33:14; 3. Pierre Rolland (FRA), 4:33:25; 4. Luis Angel Mate (ESP), 4:33:20; 5. Ben Gastauer (LUX), 4:34:51. Also in the top 50: 27. Sepp Kuss (USA), 4:37:04.

Stage 5: 29 August Granada to Roquetas de Mar (188.7 km; medium mountains)
Stage 6: 30 August Huercal-Overa to San Javier (155.7 km); flat
Stage 7: 31 August Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcon (185.7 km’ flat)
Stage 8: 01 September Linares to Almadén (195.1 km; flat)
Stage 9: 02 September Talavera de la Reina to La Covatilla (200.8 km; mountains)

03 September Rest day

Stage 10: 04 September Universidad de Salamanca to Fermoselle (177.0 km; flat)
Stage 11: 05 September Mombuey to Ribeira Sacra (207.8 km; hilly)
Stage 12: 06 September Mondoñedo to Faro de Estaca de Bares (181.1 km; hilly)
Stage 13: 07 September Candas. Carreño to Valle de Sabero (174.8 km; mountains)
Stage 14: 08 September Cistierna to Les Praeres (171.0 km); mountains
Stage 15: 09 September Ribera de Arriba to Lagos de Covadonga (178.2 km; mountains)

10 September Rest day

Stage 16: 11 September Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega (Indiv. Time Trial: 32.0 km)
Stage 17: 12 September Getxo to Balcon de Bizkaia (157.0 km; hilly)
Stage 18: 13 September Ejea de los Caballeros to Lleida (186.1 km; flat)
Stage 19: 14 September Lleida to Andorra. Naturlandia (154.4 km; flat)
Stage 20: 15 September Escaldes-Engordany to Coll de la Gallina (97.3 km; mountains)
Stage 21: 16 September Alcorcon to Madrid (112.3 km; flat)