McEwen sprints to victory

Australian Robbie McEwen surged 150 metres from the finish to win the 207-km fourth stage of the Tour de France from Huy to Saint-Quentin yesterday. The Davitamon rider crossed the line at least two full bicycle lengths in front of his rivals, for his...

Australian Robbie McEwen surged 150 metres from the finish to win the 207-km fourth stage of the Tour de France from Huy to Saint-Quentin yesterday.

The Davitamon rider crossed the line at least two full bicycle lengths in front of his rivals, for his second stage win in three days.

Spaniard Isaac Galvez of the Caisse d'Epargne team was second and Rabobank rider Oscar Freire third.

Overall leader Tom Boonen finished fifth to retain the yellow jersey, one second ahead of Australian Michael Rogers (T-Mobile). American George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) remained third, five seconds adrift of Boonen.

For the first time in five days, few incidents were reported.

The stage started with 172 riders after Erik Dekker of the Netherlands, American Fred Rodriguez and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde pulled out with shoulder or collarbone injuries after crashing on Tuesday.

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