Luetzelschwab and Sosna win the time trial and become new leaders, Alleman and Rabensteiner repeat victory and consolidate their lead

Stage 4 of the Andalucía Bike Race by GARMIN 2023 and the women's category continues to offer excitement at all levels. The pair formed by Katazina Sosna and Irina Luetzelschwab (TEAM TORPADO BULLS SWISS) have won the time trial and are now the new leaders of the race. In the men's category, Fabian Rabensteiner and Wout Alleman (WILIER PIRELLI FACTORY) took their third consecutive stage win and consolidated their first place in the overall standings.

Irina Luetzelschwab and Katazina Sosna win stage 4 of the Andalucía Bike Race 2023 and take the lead, Alleman and Rabensteiner consolidate their position at the top of the overall rankings

The fourth day of the Andalucía Bike Race by GARMIN took the race to Villafranca de Córdoba for the time trial stage. With scheduled departures from 10 am, the Elite riders had their turn from 12. But all have faced a route of 31 kilometers of constant up and down with the climbs to Los Rafaeles and 'La Risa' as highlights.

Irina Luetzelschwab and Katazina Sosna (Team Torpado BULLS Swiss) were the fastest in the women's category and set the fastest time from the first intermediate point. Both were able to maintain the pace throughout the day and ended up taking the stage victory and the lead in the general classification.

"We finally managed to put on the leaders' jersey, which was our goal, and now we want to keep it until the end."

The leaders until today, Stefanie Dohrn and Lejla Njemcevic (Canyon Allebike), finished third in the stage and lost the leaders' jersey by a minute and a half. Second in the stage were Janina Wüst and Txell Figueras (BUFF®-Megamo Team), who were the first leaders of the race. Although Sosna and Luetzelschwab have opened the gap, the overall classification is still very tight between the three pairs on the podium.

In the men's category, Wout Alleman and Fabian Rabensteiner (Wilier Pirelli Factory) continue to lead the race with an iron fist and have added their third consecutive victory, which consolidates them in the lead. "Today was an important day and we are very happy. The time trial stage is always a bit tricky, but we felt very strong again from the start and we were able to take another victory. Now it's time to control the race and take home the leaders' jersey."

The Wilier Pirelli Factory duo is already more than five minutes ahead of their immediate pursuers in the general classification, Francesco Failli and Riccardo Chiarini (Taddei Factory Team), who finished fifth in the stage against the clock. The podium of the stage was completed by Enrique Morcillo and Hugo Drechou (BUFF®-Megamo Team), with the second best time with their teammates José Dias and Hans Becking, third.

After the stage against the clock in Villafranca de Córdoba, the race will travel tomorrow to Córdoba to compete in the Skoda Super Stage, the longest stage of this edition with just over 92 kilometers. The route will be similar to the one experienced last year, but with some novelties. The race will start at La Canchuela and from there will begin a new section called 'La Cuesta del Hielo', recovered from the first editions of the race. Later on, the riders will pass through the Fuente de Elefantes, the Fangorn forest and the mythical ascent of El Reventón.

STAGE 4 CLASSIFICATION - UCI ELITE MEN CATEGORY

1. Fabian Rabensteiner - Wout Alleman WILIER PIRELLI FACTORY 01:16:34
2. Enrique Morcillo – Hugo Drechou BUFF®-MEGAMO TEAM 01:17:26
3. José Dias – Hans Becking BUFF®-MEGAMO TEAM 01:17:34

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION – UCI ELITE MEN CATEGORY

1. Fabian Rabensteiner – Wout Alleman WILIER PIRELLI FACTORY 09:07:11
2. Francesco Failli – Riccardo Chiarini TADDEI FACTORY TEAM 09:12:30
3. Roberto Bou – Miguel Múñoz CANNONDALE VAS ARABAY 09:12:54

STAGE 4 CLASSIFICATION - UCI ELITE WOMEN CATEGORY

1. Katazina Sosna – Irina Luetzelschwab TEAM TORPADO BULLS SWISS 01:36:38
2. Txell Figueras – Janina Wüst BUFF®-MEGAMO TEAM 01:38:04
3. Lejla Njemcevic - Stefanie Dohrn CANYON ALLEBIKE 01:38:09

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION – UCI ELITE WOMEN CATEGORY

1. Katazina Sosna – Irina Luetzelschwab TEAM TORPADO BULLS SWISS 11:21:02
2. Lejla Njemcevic - Stefanie Dohrn CANYON ALLEBIKE 11:22:34
3. Txell Figueras – Janina Wüst BUFF®-MEGAMO TEAM 11:23:36