Stage 4 Photo-Finish Goes To Aussie Rider

Stage 4 (172.5 kilometers from Lorient to Mur de Bretagne) was not a mountain stage of the Tour de France, but it was very hilly and finished with a 2 kilometer category 3 climb. This gave the advantage to the stronger-climbing riders over the pure sprinters. But as I expected, Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) was able to hang with the top finishers and keeps his yellow jersey for another day.

But the day belonged to Australian Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), who finished just inches ahead of Spanish rider (and last year's champion) Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank). It was so close they had to go to the finish-line camera to determine the winner. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) from Kazakhstan finished in third place. The top ten riders finished in a pack (including Hushovd) and therefore received the same time.

Tomorrow's stage 5 will be much kinder to the pure sprinters. The 165 kilometer course from Carhaix to Cap-Frehel is a fairly hilly course with a small categorey 4 climb about one-third of the way into the race, but it does not finish with a difficult uphill climb. Unlike today, stage 5 will probably be a battle of the sprinters. It is very possible that Thor Hushovd can keep his yellow jersey at the end of stage 5, since he is a very good sprinter and would just have to finish in a group with the stage winners.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (INDIVIDUAL LEADER)
1. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)
2. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........01"
3. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........04"
4. David Millar, Great Britain (Garmin-Cervelo)..........08"
5. Andreas Kloden, Germany (Radio Shack)..........10"
6. Bradley Wiggins, Great Britain (Sky Procycling)..........10"
7. Geraint Thomas, Great Britain (Sky Procycling)..........12"
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norway (Sky Procycling)..........12"
9. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........12"
10. Jakob Fuglsang, Denmark (Leopard-Trek)..........12"
13. Tejay Van Garderen, USA (HTC_Highroad)..........13"
14. Christopher Horner, USA (Radio Shack)..........18"
15. Levi Leipheimer, USA (Radio Shack)..........18"
41. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........1' 42"


GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Movistar)..........82 pts
2. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........80 pts
3. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........77 pts
4. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)..........70 pts
5. Tyler Farrar, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........68 pts


POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........2 pts
2. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........1 pt
3. Mickael Delage, France (FDJ)..........1 pt
4. Johnny Hoogerland, Netherlands (Vacansoleil)..........1 pt
5. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........1 pt


TEAM STANDINGS
1. Garmin-Cervelo (USA)
2. Sky Procycling (Great Britain)..........02"
3. Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg)..........04"
4. Radio Shack (USA)..........10"
5. HTC-Highroad (USA)..........13"
6. Astana (Kazakhstan)..........49"