La Vuelta Femenina stage 4 LIVE: The race heads into the climbs, but have we seen the last of the sprinters?

Stage 4 of La Vuelta Femenina saw the peloton tackle a 115km route starting in Monforte de Lemos, marking a definitive shift from the opening flat stages. While no outright summit finish, the undulating terrain, particularly the ascent to Alto da Serra, put an end to the sprinters' dominance. Though no definitive winner is yet known from the provided information, the stage's profile guaranteed a shake-up, favoring climbers and GC contenders as the race moved into more challenging territory.

This transition is crucial for the overall classification, as the early stages often see sprinters and their teams expend considerable energy for fleeting glory. Now, the true GC battle begins, with riders like Demi Vollering, Elisa Longo Borghini, and Gaia Realini likely eyeing opportunities to gain time or test rivals. Historically, the Vuelta Femenina's mid-race mountain stages are where the eventual winner lays their foundation, making today's stage a critical indicator of form and team strength for the coming high-mountain challenges.

With the flat-track bullies now relegated to the back, the real racing can finally commence. The mountains, as ever, will sort out the pretenders from the contenders.