(Adds Di Gregorio pulling out)
By Julien Pretot
JOIGNY, France, July 11 - Norway's Thor Hushovd
claimed his first victory of the year when he clinched the
fourth stage of the Tour de France, a 193-km trek from
Villers-Cotterets to Joigny on Wednesday.
The Credit Agricole rider, who won the green jersey in 2005,
launched the bunch sprint 350 metres from the finish line to
edge Barloworld's South African rider Robert Hunter for the win.
Spaniard Oscar Freire was third for the Rabobank team.
Hushovd's fifth victory on the Tour meant the Norwegian
leapfrogged German Andreas Kloeden for second place overall
thanks to time bonuses, with Briton David Millar now out of the
top three.
Swiss Fabian Cancellara, who finished safe in the main pack,
retained the leader's yellow jersey.
"It was a pretty cool day because the team did the job even
though there was some wind," Cancellara told a news conference.
Belgian Tom Boonen was a disappointing eighth in the stage
but kept the best sprinter's green jersey.
Hushovd, who won last year's opening prologue and the
closing sprint on the Champs-Elysees, paid tribute to Australian
team mate Julian Dean, who piloted him through the pack in the
last km.
"He is the best in the world to launch the sprints," said
Hushovd.
LAUNCHED BREAKAWAY
Frenchman Matthieu Sprick launched a breakaway after 30 km
and was followed by compatriot Sylvain Chavanel, Spaniards Juan
Antonio Flecha and Gorka Verdugo, and Germany's Christian Knees.
The fugitives built a four-minute gap but were inexorably
swallowed by the peloton with seven km remaining.
The Caisse d'Epargne team were reduced to eight men after
Spaniard Xavier Zandio retired with a fractured collarbone
following a crash early in the stage.
"It is a huge loss for the team because he is a rider who
can work on any type of course. It's a pity," said manager
Jose-Luis Jaimerena.
Remy di Gregorio of the Francaise des Jeux team was also
involved in the crash but managed to cross the line some eight
minutes after Hushovd.
However, the Marseille-born rider, one of his team's hopes
in the mountains, had to later pull out after breaking his right
elbow.
Thursday's fifth stage takes the peloton over 182.5 km from
Chablis to Autun.