Samuel Sanchez won the Fouth Stage of the Basque Tour this afternoon.
A 179km stage from Amurrio - Eibar (Arrate) saw HTC Highroad's Michael Albasini along with with Caja Rural's Julian Sanchez Pimienta and a Vacansoleil rider in Maxim Belkov breaking clear after only twenty kilometres gone.
They stayed clear until they reached the town of Eibar. Leopard Trek's Jens Voigt spearheaded the peleton and as the stage reached the ring road with 8km to go the break was over.
Movistar's Xavier Tondo shot off with 4km to go followed by Frank Schleck on the final climb of the day.
Eustkatel's Samuel Sanchez swept up the Leopard Trek rider and with less than two kilometres to go,Tondo was swept up.
Andy Schleck led as they went under the Flam Rouge but Sanchez went followed by Andrea Klodden to win the race in 4hr 42 mins and 34 seconds.
Joaquim Rodriquez keeps his yellow jersey for tomorrow's stage five from Eibar to Zalla which is 177km long.