Ben Turner produced a remarkable sprint finish to claim his first-ever Grand Tour stage win at the Vuelta a España, marking a breakthrough moment in the career of the Ineos Grenadiers rider. The 26-year-old British cyclist surged past Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Belgian duo, Jasper Philipsen and Edward Planckaert, to win stage four, which stretched from Susa in Italy to Voiron, France, covering 206 kilometres and over 3,000 metres of altitude.
Turner, a late call-up after teammate Lucas Hamilton withdrew due to illness, powered to victory on the long, rising finish. Fellow Briton Ethan Vernon, riding for Israel-Premier Tech, took fourth on his 25th birthday. Turner’s performance came as a surprise to many, given that he had been competing just days earlier at the Renewi Tour in Belgium and was only added to the Vuelta squad at the last moment.
The stage featured two significant climbs, the Col de Montgenèvre at 38 km and the Col du Lauteret at 76 km, before descending toward the finish in France. Early breakaways were caught with about 50 km remaining, setting up a high-speed finale. Philipsen, initially well-positioned behind teammate Planckaert, became boxed in as Turner and Vernon surged alongside, allowing Turner to cross the line three-quarters of a bike length ahead. His victory was his third professional win but easily the most significant of his career.
“Today I just had the best guys around me and I did what I had to do,” Turner said after the stage, describing the last 100 metres as feeling “so long.” He admitted frustration earlier in the sprint when his chain came off but maintained confidence, which ultimately powered him to the win. Turner’s towering 6 ft 4 in frame earned him the nickname “Big Ben”, and his cyclo-cross background, shared with fellow Yorkshireman Tom Pidcock, has shaped his versatility on the road.
Turner’s victory was achieved against some of the sport’s top competitors, including Philipsen, who is widely regarded as one of the fastest road sprinters in the world, as well as former world champion Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis). The win offers a morale boost for Ineos Grenadiers, who faced difficulties at the Tour de France last month amid a doping investigation involving the team’s head soigneur.
In the general classification, French climber David Gaudu, winner of stage three, currently leads on a count-back over two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark. Gaudu’s consistent finishing positions have earned him the red jersey, while Ineos Grenadiers’ leader Egan Bernal sits fourth, 14 seconds behind, and Pidcock is fifth at 16 seconds. The team will aim to capitalise on Turner’s momentum during Wednesday’s 24.1 km team time trial in Figueres, with former time trial world champion Filippo Ganna expected to play a pivotal role.
Race director Dario Cioni emphasised the challenge of managing a star like Ganna, noting that, while his strength is a significant advantage, careful strategy is required to benefit the team overall. Ineos Grenadiers faces stiff competition from Visma-Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Nevetherless, the squad remains positive about their chances in the time trial.
