French Champion Thomas Voeckler won the Fourth Stage of the Paris-Nice classic this afternoon.
Stage Four was 191kms long and comprised of seven climbs and a flat finish as the race, without the ill Gert Steegmans and fifth placed Russian sprinter Denis Galimzyanov of Katusha, went from Crêches-sur-Saône to Belleville.
The attacks started early and Thomas De Gendt of the Vacansoliel, who was looking to get back into the yellow jersey he had lost to Matt Goss on stage three, went clear along with Europcar's Thomas Voeckler who had been prominent yesterday and FDJ's Remi Pauriol. They were later caught by Omega Pharma Lotto's Francis De Greef and Astana's Remy di Gregario (Astana),
The quintet went over five minutes clear on the road but by the time, they had got to the 55km to go stage, their lead was down to less than three minutes ahead of a peleton lead by Bournemouth's Daniel Lloyd (pictured below).
British champion Geraint Thomas was brought down by the last man in the General Classification with 46.80km to go and had to change his bike, whilst Remi Pauriol took another seven points in the King Of The Mountains competition when he was first over the Col du Fût d'Avenas.
The five breakaway leaders were now ninty seconds clear as the race went into the Beaujolis region on a sunny afternoon. With 116 of the riders within thirty seconds of the yellow jersey, there was everything to ride for and the gap.
Thomas De Gendt took another four seconds in an intermediate sprint to increase his lead over Matt Goss to six seconds with 16km to go.
With De Greef dropped off the back, Thomas De Gendt continued to keep the pace high as the stage went into the final five kilometres of the day and the four escapees some forty seconds clear.
That lead was halved with two km to go as Lampre lead a charging peleton. Thomas De Gendt took them up but it was Thomas Voeckler who was first over the line from Pauriol and De Gendt, who is back in yellow in third.
The fifth stage tomorrow is from Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise to Vernoux-en-Vivarais and is 193 kilometres long.
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RABBOBANK TAKE TIRRENO ADRIACTICO OPENING STAGE
Lars Boom leads the Tirreno-Adriatico after his Rabbobank team won the opening time trial today.
Rabbobank clocked up the fastest time of 18:08 for the 16.8km Team Time Trial. They were nine seconds ahead of Team Garmin Cervelo which contained David Millar (pictured below) with HTC Road who included Mark Cavendish third.
Tomorrow's second stage is 202km long and is from Carrara to Arezzo.
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OLYMPIC TIME TRIAL ROUTE ANNOUNCED
The route of the London 2012 Mens And Womens Time Trial has been announced.
The 44km for men and 29km for women course will start and finish in Hampton Court Palace on Wednesday August 1st 2012.
The riders will leave the Palace and go south over Hampton Court Bridge before the men do a loop around Knight Reservoir, then head down Hampton Court Way towards Burwood Road. After some hills, the race heads back to London via Cobham and Kingston with a loop through Bushby Park before the finish back at Hampton Court Palace.
In a press statement, London 2102 Organising Committe Chairman Seb Coe said: Hampton Court Palace is a stunning venue that will showcase the area. “We have worked closely with the UCI and our partners to ensure that we have the best possible sporting course for the athletes and we are confident of spectacular races and worthy winners.”
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM