Slovenian Primoz Roglic fought his way into the overall lead at the Volta a Catalunya on Thursday, claiming stage four by outsprinting Juan Ayuso at the summit finish in Montserrat.

UAE Team Emirates’ Ayuso had edged Roglic on Wednesday to take the leader’s jersey, but the 35-year-old four-time Vuelta a España winner responded with a powerful display to earn his first victory of the season.

Roglic And Ayuso Tied Atop GC

Both riders, among the race favorites in the absence of defending champion Tadej Pogacar, are now tied on time at the top of the general classification. Enric Mas sits third overall, 20 seconds behind.

Roglic, racing for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, completed the mountainous 188.7-kilometer stage from Sant Vicenç de Castellet to the iconic Montserrat monastery in just over four hours and 24 minutes.

"I had something left at the end, so luckily I won," said Roglic.

Volta A Catalunya Still Wide Open

"It’s definitely not over—there are hard days to come. For the moment, I’m going well, we’re in a good position, and we’ll see. We go day by day and we’ll see by the end," he added.

Stage five of the seven-day Volta a Catalunya will take riders 172 kilometers from Pauls to Amposta.