Thor Hushovd defends Tour lead on stage 4
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- Created on Tuesday, 05 July 2011 14:10
- Written by Dena Rosenberry
MUR-DE-BRETAGNE, France (AP) — Thor Hushovd of Norway has the yellow jersey as riders set out on a rainy day on the fourth stage of the Tour de France.
During Tuesday's stage through Brittany, Jurgen Van de Walle of Belgium became the first rider to pull out of the race — reducing the pack to 197 racers. His Omega Pharma-Lotto team says he has lingering groin pain from a crash Saturday.
Hushovd took the race lead after his Garmin-Cervelo won Sunday's team time trial. The world champion held it Monday when teammate Tyler Farrar of the U.S. won the third stage.
Defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain is in 69th place. The three-time Tour champ trails his main rival Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, last year's runner-up, by 1 minute, 38 seconds.
PHOTO: The pack rides in the rain during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 107.2 miles starting in Lorient and finishing in Le Mur de Bretagne, Brittany, western France, on Tuesday. AP Photo/Christophe Ena
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