Guerreiro tops Formolo and Buitrago to win Saudi Tour stage 4
Movistar new signing moves into overall lead after queen stage






Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) beat Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Felix Großschartner (UAE Team Emirates) in a sprint to win the Queen stage of the Saudi Tour up to Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid platform.
The four riders got away on the climb up to the plateau and held off a determined but fractured chase.
Jonathan Milan (Bahrain Victorious) was part of the third chase group and finished just 28 seconds down on Guerreiro but he lost the overall race lead to the Portuguese rider. Milan is now fifth overall at 24 seconds.
Guerreiro now leads Formolo by eight seconds, with Buitrago third at nine seconds. He will have to defend the green leader’s jersey during Friday’s final rolling 142.9km stage, where the sprinters are expected to return to the fore.
The climb to the finish was always going to be decisive for the stage victory and the overall classification. An early break was allowed to open a two-minute gap on the circuits of AlUla in the valley and Canada’s Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5) was the last to be caught at the foot of the climb but the peloton was all together as the road climbed out of the shadows.
Formolo made a number of surges on the 12% gradient but Buitrago joined him and Großschartner, with Guerreiro latching on as the gradient eased over the top. They then rode together on the plateau road, holding off the chasers.
Formolo tried to control the sprint but Guerreiro got ahead of him and held off the Italian.
Guerriero moved from EF Education-EasyPost to Movistar for 2023 and immediately used his climbing skills to land an early-season but significant win for the Spanish team. Movistar are working with the Saudi Arabian Cycling Federation and could secure funding from the region in the future.
"Today was really hard, really tough. We know this climb, we did it training but we didn’t know how the legs would feel after the stages in the wind and with so much stress,” Guerreiro explained.
"I think the secret to winning was to wait and wait. It was a nervous stage, either full gas or really slow because of the wind. You needed to wait during the week and during the stage because there were three hours before the final climb.
"I was watching the UAE guys and Santiago Buitrago. He had a poker face. I had to watch him because he’s quick. I was lucky to have the legs for the sprint. I have to thank my teammates and staff, they’re amazing. This win is for them and for my family. This is my first year in the team and I immediately felt welcome here.”
The overall race lead came as a bonus for Guerreiro but now he and Movistar are keen to wrap up overall victory.
"I was focused on crossing the line first rather than the leader’s jersey. We’ve got a good team, with just one stage to go, I think we're ready and focused,” Guerreiro confirmed.
Results powered by FirstCycling
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Stephen is one of the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'I suffered because of the cold' - Miserable weather affects Thibau Nys' debut performance at Flèche Wallonne
'I was too hot and then too cold again. That really affected my legs, very early in the final' Lidl-Trek rider finishes 8th despite discomfort in rain-soaked Huy -
'I blew up a little bit' - Elisa Longo Borghini lands podium at Flèche Wallonne and gains confidence for Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Italian Champion holds off Niewiadoma-Phinney for third place on Mur de Huy final ascent to finish -
Ruth Edwards wins first Pan American Championship title at individual time trial
Emily Ehrlich adds silver in ITT for USA to pair of gold medals from Track Pan Ams -
As it happened: Multi-discipline star takes victory at La Fleche Wallonne women 2025
Don't miss the action from the elite women's 140.7-kilometre race, including the iconic finish up the Mur de Huy