Paris-Nice stage 4: Gianni Meersman wins in Rodez

Gianni Meersman (Lotto Belisol) was the surprise winner of stage 4 of Paris-Nice, sprinting to victory ahead of Grega Bole (Lampre – ISD) and Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team).

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) came through the stage unscathed and remains in the race lead, six seconds ahead of Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).

"I was third yesterday, and today the team worked all day. That gave me confidence and I'm really glad there was a victory," Meersman said at the finish. "Today I was fast but I'm just happy I could win and I'm happy with the victory."

"We had a little roundabout with roughly 200 meters to go and I was in fifth position. I thought I was too far back and I was waiting and waiting and then I sprinted."

It was the second victory of the season for the Belgian, who moved to Lotto-Belisol from FDJ. "I had a really good winter, with no complaints and I feel good on this team," he said.

The expected showdown between Wiggins and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) failed to materialise on the final climb into Rodez. But this was no anti-climax, the stage providing further evidence of Wiggins's current form and class, while Valverde, returning from a doping suspension, struggles to match his form of old.

In truth, and bar a major upset, the final climb was never going to provide a complete overhaul in the GC, as Wiggins and his Sky team rode a tactically astute stage, with rival teams burning their matches in a bid to pile on the pressure. But on the lower slopes in Rodez it was Wiggins who still had multiple teammates with him. Valverde had only Jose Joaquim Rojas as company.

That lack of firepower, coupled with an easing gradient allowed for the likes of Bole – who led the sprint out, and Meersman, who timed his surge perfectly, to decide the sprint. Wiggins, merely had to follow Valverde, who finished 8th, with the Brit in 10th.

After yesterday's demanding finale the bunch were far more accepting of an early attack and the formation of a break.

Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ-BigMat) started the attacking just outside Brive, 6km into the stage. Shortly afterwards, Leigh Howard (GreenEdge), Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) and Bart De Clerq (Lotto Belisol) bridged across and that quintet set to work.

Within 20km the group had 5:20 on the bunch. Until this point Cofidis, Ag2r and to some extent GreenEdge and FDJ all had poor races and with De Clerq the highest placed at 11:24, Sky were never interested in chasing.

Mate's ambitions were clear when on the Côte de Blanquie and the Quotidiane he took the maximum points on offer and moved into the polka-dot jersey.

Back in the bunch, Sky remained calm as Rabobank and Lampre began to chase. After Luis Leon Sanchez's strong finish on stage 3 the Dutch team had reason to work, while Lampre were clearing confident that the finish would suit Bole.

With 40 kilometres remaining the gap was down to 1:32. Wiggins, surrounded by Sky riders, never slipped from the first 20 riders as up ahead, Mate sat up, aware that he had done enough to pull the mountains jersey from the overnight leader Thomas De Gendt.

Tom Boonen reapplied the pressure on the front, just like he'd done on stage three, and his power was enough to see off Thor Hushovd – clearly a sign of form ahead of Milan-Sanremo, while Ivan Basso once again found the pace too high, and as Boonen swung off, thoroughly cooked, he began waving to the television cameras.

With the break caught De Gent threw himself up the road and although a group of three soon caught him, a combination of Sky, Garmin and QuickStep had the peloton together inside the final 2 kilometers. Yesterday's runner-up Simon Gerrans (GreenEdge) fell as the leaders worked their way through the road furniture.

Andreas Kloden (RadioShack) attacked just as Frank Schleck was dropped, as Movistar and principally Jose Rojas set an almost-sprint-like pace. Wiggins clung to Valverde, who was either unwilling or unable to strike from distance, and with Kloden caught and the gradient easing the sprint became the most likely outcome.

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