Spain`s Alberto Contador secured a Paris-Nice double whammy by winning the race`s fourth stage amid wintry conditions here, becoming the overall leader in the process.
|Last Updated: Mar 12, 2010, 09:21 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Mende: Spain`s Alberto Contador secured a Paris-Nice double whammy by winning the race`s fourth stage amid wintry conditions here, becoming the overall leader in the process.
The Astana rider attacked 1700 metres from the line to finish 10 seconds ahead of compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sanchez after the 173.5 kilometre ride from Maurs-la-Jolie.
Another Spaniard, Joaquim Rodriguez, finished fourth, with Frenchman Thomas Voeckler 18sec off the pace in fifth.
"I didn`t feel great," said Contador. "It was cold, really very cold, during the stage. I hope the temperature will increase.”"Paris-Nice isn`t over. I even think the hard part is just starting. There are three difficult stages remaining and you shouldn`t forget that Paris-Nice is one of the most difficult races of the season to control."
Overnight leader Jens Voigt of Germany conceded 40 seconds to Contador after falling behind during the gruelling 3km climb to the finish line.
In the new overall classification, reigning Tour de France champion Contador is 24 seconds ahead of Valverde.
Contador`s victory was his fifth stage win in the Paris-Nice race and the second time he has won the stage ending in Mende.His first major professional race victory came with the 2007 Paris-Nice, which laid the foundations for his first Tour de France triumph later that year.
Friday`s fifth stage is a 157km ride south from Pernes-les-Fontaines to Aix-en-Provence. The race finishes in Nice on Sunday.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.