Cadel Evans wins Tour fourth stage

Tour de France 2011, stage four: Cadel Evans edges Alberto Contador in sprint photo finish

There are yellow jerseys at stake in the Tour de France and then there are symbolic moments to be won. On the lung-bursting, two-kilometre uphill slog to the Mur-de-Bretagne finish, defending champion Alberto Contador ceded the fourth stage but declared his hand.

Full power: Cadel Evans, right, just shaded Alberto Contador in a photo finish Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The three-time winner, who is desperate to make up lost time, as well as lost face, was unable to chase down the gutsy thrust for the line by 34-year-old hard-nut Australian, Cadel Evans, losing out in a photo-finish after a 172.5km race through rain and wind from Lorient.

Evans’ performance gave him the lead in the battle for the climbers’ jersey.

In a bare-knuckle scrap, Contador, who attacked initially at 1.3km, could not quite deliver the knockout blow.

Yet he is back in the fight, up off the canvas after taking damaging blows earlier in the tour. He is not going to go quietly, subdued by scandal or adversaries. He may have been beaten on the day but his tour is alive again.Read more...