France - Tour de France

Fourth stage: Cancellara holds off Armstrong

Article published on the 2009-07-07 Latest update 2009-07-07 18:26 TU

Saxo Bank rider and yellow jersey holder Fabian Cancellara arrives with his team mates at the finish line of the fourth stage of the Tour de France in Montpellier, 7 July 2009.
(Photo: Reuters/Charles Platiau)

Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara retained the yellow jersey by the slimmest of margins on Tuesday after the Tour de France’s fourth stage in Montpellier.

The 39-kilometre team time-trial was won by Lance Armstrong’s Astana team and he is now only two tenths of a second behind Cancellara in the overall standings.

Armstrong’s teammate Alberto Contador, who won the Tour in 2007, is 19 seconds back in third place.

Astana crossed the finish line a full 40 seconds quicker than Cancellara’s Saxo Bank team. The Garmin team of David Millar and Bradley Wiggins finished in second place, 18 seconds behind Astana.

"It's a little bit of a disappointment (to still be in second place) but the yellow jersey is on the horizon," Armstrong said. "Astana did their maximum."

Armstrong, who is hoping to win this event for an eighth time, will be confident of pushing clear of Cancellara when the Tour moves into the mountain stages in the Pyrenees on Friday.

Results from stage four, a 39km team time-trial around Montpellier on Tuesday:

1. Astana 46min 29 sec

2. Garmin 18 seconds behind

3. Saxo Bank +40

4. Liquigas +58

5. Columbia +59

6. Katusha +1min 23sec

7. Caisse d'Epargne +1:29

8. Cervelo +1:38

9. AG2R +1:49

10. Euskaltel +2:10

Overall standings:

1. Fabian Canellara (SWI/SAX) 10h38min 07sec

2. Lance Armstrong (USA/AST) same time

3. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) 19 seconds behind

4. Andreas Kloden (GER/AST) +23

5. Levi Leipheimer (USA/AST) +31

6. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/GRM) +38

7. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/AST) +51

8. Tony Martin (GER/THR) +52

9. David Zabriskie (USA/GRM) +1min 06sec

10. David Millar (GBR/GRM) +1:07