Belgian rider Thomas de Gendt has won the mountainous fourth stage of the Tour of Catalonia, but Nairo Quintana took the overall lead after surpassing his title rivals in the Pyrenees, while Austalia's defending champion Richie Porte is third.
De Gendt got the win for his Lotto Soudal team after finishing the 172-kilometre route from Baga to Porte Aine that featured two special-category summits in just under five hours.
Quintana was next up the snowy ascent, crossing over a minute later after he dropped Alberto Contador, who sits second overall, and Chris Froome among the other favourites to take the lead from Daniel Martin.
Porte edged Alberto Contador at the finish line to finish the stage third, and is third overall at :17 behind Quintana, followed by Martin at :24 back.
De Gendt caught and passed fellow solo rider Pieter Weening up the final 19-kilometre climb to the finish.
De Gendt, whose previous career win came at the Tour of Catalonia in 2013, said he was surprised by the result because he "had a bad feeling."
"But on the last climb with only two kilometres to go I had him just in front of me and I had to go on full," he said.
Quintana entered the day in fifth place at 19 seconds behind Martin. The Colombian climbing expert for Movistar turned that deficit into an eight-second advantage over Contador.
"The pace was very fast in the group and we had to go on the attack," Quintana said.
"I took advantage of my opportunity as soon as I saw it. I was able to launch a great attack and make up the distances from yesterday."
Froome fell :46 off the pace after the Tour de France champion failed to keep up when the other contenders exchanged attacks on the final push.
Friday's fifth stage is a 187-kilometre ride from Rialp to Valls.
The weeklong race in northeastern Spain ends in Barcelona on Sunday.
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