Vuelta a Colombia 2012: Stage 4

"El Gato" stays in Yellow.

Wearing the Yellow Jersey, Félix "El Gato" Cárdenas (GW Shimano) won the first mountain stage of this year's Vuleta a Colombia, between Ibague and Armenia, via the Alto La Linea. Cardenas won his second stage and now established himself as the favorite to win the race overall.



The HC climb to La Linea provided the selection many expected and has reduced the list of favorites to just a handful. The ascent was marked by multiple attacks off the ever-shrinking peloton, but it was clear that El Gato's GW-Shimano team were in control. In the last kilometers of the climb Fernando Camargo (Lotería de Boyacá) was able to get ahead of the group and went over the legendary summit in first place. On the descent he was joined by teammate Rodolfo Torres and Juan Diego Ramírez of the Supergiros-Redetrans team. Cárdenas' biggest rival, Fabio Duarte (Colombia-Coldeportes), tested the leader a few times, but El Gato and his team controlled every attack. With 10 kilometers to go, the GW-Shimano team turned up the gas and caught the three leaders with just meters to the line. Cárdenas out-sprinted Ramírez, the last remaining member of the original leading trio, and Fabio Duarte came in third.



Sunday's flat stage from Armenia to Cali (179kms) should not shake the GC.

The lonely Fernando Camargo conquers La Linea.

STAGE RESULTS
1. Félix Cárdenas (GW Shimano)
2. Juan Diego Ramírez (Supergiros-Redetrans)  ST
3. Fabio Duarte (Colombia-Coldeportes)
4. Fernando Camargo (Lotería-Empresa de Energía de Boyacá)
5. Didier Sastoque (Formesan-Bogotá Humana-Pinturas Bler)

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Félix Cárdenas (GW Shimano)
2. Fabio Duarte (Colombia-Coldeportes)  22s
3. Juan Diego Ramírez (Supergiros-Redetrans)  33s
4. Didier Sastoque (Formesan-Bogotá Humana-Pinturas Bler)  46s
5. Freddy Montaña (Movistar Continental)  49s