Tour De France 2006

[Ben Lauer]

Stage 4:


- In today's stage their are two climbs are three sprints. It is 207km long and goes from Huy, Germany to Saint-Quentin, France.
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- More doping tests were taken today. The UCI subjected 54 riders from six teams to blood controls. The squads involved were Saunier Duval-Prodir, Credit Agricole, Francaise des Jeux, Discovery Channel, Cofidis and Agritubel. No abnormalities were found and all riders were clear to start the stage.
- The second attack on the day started at the 18.5km mark.
- The lead continues to climb at the 91km mark where it stands at 4:55. The lead group contained:
Egoi Martinez (ESP - DSC) 22nd - at 28" (time behind yellow jersey)
Laurent Lefevre (FRA - BTL) 64th - at 52"
Christophe Mengin (FRA - FDJ) 136th - at 6’33"
Cedric Coutouly (FRA - AGR) 140th - at 7’29"
Bradley Wiggins (GBR - COF) 152nd - at 9’54"
- With 37 km to go the excapees are 2:40 ahead of the peloton. From here the started closing fast and caught up with them over 4 hour after their escape, with less than 2 km to go in the stage.
- There is no change to the top of the general classification after the fourth stage.
- The top five in Saint-Quentin is:
1. Robbie McEwen (AUS - DVL) (10th career stage win)
2. Isaac Galvez (ESP - CEI)
3. Oscar Freire (ESP - RAB)
4. Thor Hushovd (NOR - C.A)
5. Tom Boonen (BEL - QSI)
Tom Boonen Holds the Yellow (leader's) jersey, and Robbie McEwen the Green (sprinter's)