FISTERRA, Spain — Daniel Moreno of Spain timed his final sprint perfectly to win the fourth stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Tuesday while Vincenzo Nibali of Italy overtook veteran American rider Christopher Horner to claim the overall leader’s jersey.
The 32-year-old Moreno, riding for Katusha, won in 4 hours, 37 minutes, 47 seconds after breaking away from the pack almost within sight of the finish line of the 117-mile ride from Lalin to Fisterra at Spain’s northwestern tip.
"It’s a spectacular victory," Moreno said. "I am very happy because I had already told my teammates that I would like to win this stage here."
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland came second just ahead of Michael Matthews of Australia, with both riders finishing in the same time as Moreno.
Nibali of Astana said he only learned he had overtaken the 41-year-old Horner as overall leader when he reached his team’s motorhome some distance from the finish. He had to rush back for the presentation ceremony.
Horner said he was still determined to try and win back the leader’s jersey and would attempt to do so during one of the race’s forthcoming mountain stages.
"I’m going to try again, at the first or second mountain stage coming up," Horner said. "Now all I need to do is to stay calm and relaxed."
Nicolas Edet of France had broken away late in the race to establish a 22-second lead, but the pack caught up with him about 20 minutes from the finish line.
Wednesday’s fifth stage stays in the northwest region of Galicia with a 174.3-kilometre (108.3-mile) ride from Sober to Lago de Sanabria.
The three-week race ends in Madrid on Sept. 15.