Vande Velde soars to victory

Christian Vande Velde won the fourth stage of the Paris-Nice, while Sylvain Chavanel retained the overall lead.

American claims stage four of Paris-Nice in St Etienne

Christian Vande Velde won the fourth stage of the Paris-Nice, while home favourite Sylvain Chavanel retained the overall lead. American Vande Velde, of the Garmin-Slipstream team, made the decisive break with 20 kilometres remaining of the 173.5km route from Vichy to St Etienne. He crossed the finish line 14 seconds clear of Frenchman Jonathan Hivert of the Skil-Shimano team and Lampre's Marco Lorenzetto of Italy, who were second and third respectively. Quick Step's Chavanel, who seized the race lead in spectacular fashion on Tuesday, just managed to keep hold of the yellow jersey despite suffering on the ascent of the Cote de Rochetaillee. He lost 27 seconds to Astana rider Alberto Contador, who attacked two km from the summit, and his overall advantage over another Spaniard, Juan Manuel Garate, dwindled to six seconds. Contador moved up to fourth overall, 36 seconds off the pace. "When he attacked, I did not want to be in the red, I did not panic," Chavanel said. "I had a tough day yesterday but I expected to be better today. However, I still have a slim margin." Stage four result
1 C Vande Velde (US/Garmin) 4 hrs 01 min 31 secs
2 J Hivert (France/Skil-Shimano) +14 secs
3 M Lorenzetto (Italy/Lampre) same time
4 C Moreau (France/Agritubel)
5 J Voigt (Germany/Saxo Bank)
6 A Moinard (France/Cofidis)
7 J Fuglsang (Denmark/Saxo Bank)
8 M Monfort (Belgium/Columbia)
9 F Schleck (Luxembourg/Saxo Bank)
10 JM Garate (Spain/Rabobank) Overall standings
1 S Chavanel (France/Quick-Step) 13 h 31m 36s
2. JM Garate (Spain/Rabobank) +6s
3 JA Flecha (Spain/Rabobank) +36"
4 A Contador (Spain/Astana)
5 K Seeldraeyers (Belgium/Quick-Step) +37"
6 D Millar (Britain/Garmin) +50"
7 A Colom (Spain/Katyusha) +55"
8 V Karpets (Russia/Katyusha) +57"
9 J Voigt (Germany/Saxo Bank) +1:03"
10 M Monfort (Belgium/Columbia) +1:08"