Stage 4 at Tirreno-Adriatico, the longest of all, between Paglieta and Cititanova Marche, distance 219 km. First 140 kilometres quite flat, the finale mountainous.
The Rabobank team of leader Oscar Freire controlled the race. At the beginning, the peloton remained close, but exploded once in the hilly surrounding.
The final ten kilometres were downhill, and the peloton regrouped for the sprint.
Thor Hushovd (Norway, Crédit Agricole) won the sprint, ahead of Italy's Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) Oscar Freire (Rabobank), who keeps the leader's jersey. Robbie ended in a group after the peloton and was classified as 94th. |