Stage 4 of the 2026 Vuelta a Burgos covers 178 km from Palazuelos de Muñó to Briviesca on a hilly profile with a flat finish, rewarding riders who can survive the punishing intermediate terrain before a reduced group sprint or small-group finale. The 2.Pro classification attracts top-level climbers and GC riders using this race as Vuelta a España preparation, ensuring a high-quality peloton. The flat run-in to Briviesca means that pure climbers with no sprint will be vulnerable to those who combine hills strength with a finishing kick.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Oscar Onley stands alone at the top on the strength of his 78 hills rating, 79 climbing, and recent hilly-race top-10. INEOS Grenadiers arrive with a deep team and Onley has no conflicting major goals, making Stage 4 a genuine target rather than a training ride.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Oscar Onley tops the hills stat at 78 alongside elite climbing (79) and has shown recent hilly-race form with a top-10 in similar profile races. INEOS Grenadiers provide strong team support and his upcoming race calendar confirms Vuelta a Burgos as a key target.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Ciccone and Mas both match Onley's 78 hills rating and bring Grand Tour-level climbing to a stage that suits them perfectly. Ciccone's sprint edge (68) and Mas's Movistar team support give each a distinct path to victory, whether in a breakaway or a reduced bunch sprint.
Movistar
Movistar
Enric Mas carries a hills rating of 78 and elite climbing of 79, making him one of the strongest cards in the peloton on this profile. Racing Vuelta a Burgos as Vuelta a España preparation, Movistar will use this race to build his form and confidence.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Giulio Ciccone matches Onley's hills rating of 78 with a 68 sprint score that suits the flat finish after a hilly parcours. The Lidl-Trek Legendary card holder is a proven performer on punchy stages and arrives fresh for Burgos before his Canadian campaign.
★★
Dark Horses
Landa, Gall, and Rodríguez all sit at 76-77 hills with elite climbing scores, and each is using Burgos as a Vuelta a España tune-up. Landa's recent form is underwhelming but his class remains undeniable; Gall and Rodríguez are younger riders hitting form at the right time of year.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Carlos Rodríguez holds a 76 hills rating and 77 climbing, with recent form showing two top-10s in seven hilly-profile races and an average position of 29.1. INEOS Grenadiers field a strong team here and Rodríguez is building toward the Vuelta a España.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Felix Gall posts a 77 hills rating backed by 79 climbing, and his Decathlon CMA CGM team has multiple support riders here. Targeting the Vuelta a España next, this race suits his profile perfectly as a high-altitude puncher who can also handle rolling terrain.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Mikel Landa holds a 77 hills rating and 79 climbing, but recent hilly-race form shows an average position of 30.7 over three events without a podium. Still a dangerous wildcard given his pedigree and Vuelta a España preparation motivation.
★
Ones to Watch
Tulett and Bilbao offer different threats: Tulett has produced actual podium results in hilly races recently, while Bilbao's 71 sprint is the best in the top-rated group and could prove decisive on the flat finish. Vine and Vermaerke round out the selection — Vine as a tactical wildcard with enormous TT power, and Vermaerke as the form rider in the field who has been consistently finishing in the top 15 of hilly stages.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Ben Tulett rates 76 on hills with solid all-round stats including a 73 TT score, and has managed a podium and two top-10s in four recent hilly-profile races. He is pencilled in for both the Vuelta a España and Il Lombardia, indicating peak form is being targeted now.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Jay Vine posts a 76 hills rating and an exceptional 80 TT score, and while hilly-race form averages 30.0 over two outings, UAE Emirates will use him aggressively to test rivals ahead of other goals. His power profile suits a stage that ends flat after sustained climbing.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Kevin Vermaerke shows the best recent hilly-race form among all starters with an average position of 11.1 across nine events, including two podiums and four top-10s. His hills rating of 75 is slightly lower than the top group but his form curve makes him a genuine dark-horse threat.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Pello Bilbao brings a 77 hills rating and the best sprint score among the top hills-rated group at 71, making him dangerous on a flat finish after a hilly stage. Racing Burgos before the Deutschland Tour keeps him match-sharp through August.
Verdict
Oscar Onley is the top favourite, combining a joint-best hills rating of 78 with INEOS team strength and a clear focus on this race, while Giulio Ciccone and Enric Mas represent the most dangerous threats with identical top-end stats and strong motivation.