Double victory for Irizar

Team Radioshack's Markel Irizar won the stage four time trial, topping AG2R-La Mondiale rider Martin Elmiger by just 0.33 seconds over the 22km test.

It was Irizar's first victory in seven years of professional cycling, and in addition earned him the white jersey of the race's overall leader heading into the flat final stage from Niort to Poitiers.

Two years ago Irizar finished second in the prologue of Paris-Nice, and in 2009 he won the overall mountains classification in the Tour Down Under, "But this is my first real victory in my professional career," Irizar said. "It is my job to help my teammates. A time trial is the best opportunity for me to land on the podium. I am more than happy today but I will continue working for the others."

"I still cannot believe it," said Irizar. "My emotions on the podium were so strong. I was thinking of my first trainer, my family, my friends, my former and current team mates, Johan Bruyneel and Lance Armstrong who gave me a spot in this Team. This is the reward for hard work."

Irizar will defend his jersey in tomorrow's last stage. "It will be hard," said team director Alain Gallopin. "Martin Elmiger is second within the same second as Markel. Elmiger is fast and there are bonus sprints. It will be hard, but not impossible."

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