Stage 4: Chicchi Wins the Stage; Zabriskie Retains the Lead

Stage 4 Results | Video | Press Release Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas-Doimo) proved fastest of an elite crop of sprinters on Wednesday, winning stage 4 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California.

The stage was set for a mass dash to the line after a four-man break — the survivors of a group twice that size that took off right from the gun, spurred by Rabobank’s Lars Boom — was pulled in on the first of two finishing circuits in Modesto.

Boom was the last man standing, pulled in with just 6km to go, but he was not the last Rabo’ to run away — teammates Maarten Tjallingii and Paul Martens both tried last-ditch attacks as the field swept around downtown Modesto.

But in the end, it was a day for the sprinters, and Chicchi put the wood to the world’s best, bolting up alongside and past Haedo, leaving Cav’ in his dust.

Race leader Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) retained the overall lead, and all the other favorites for the overall crossed with the main group. RadioShack’s Lance Armstrong hit the deck in the finale, but he did not appear to be seriously hurt. More important for him, he fell within the 3km limit and was given pack time on the day. Read more »

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