BBC SPORT | Other Sports | Cycling

Dauphine Libere fourth stage results

France's Patrice Halgand surged ahead six kilometres from the line to win the fourth stage of the Dauphine Libere on Thursday.

But Lance Armstrong, who will bid for a fourth straight Tour de France win in July, did just enough to keep his overall lead - 16 seconds ahead of US Postal team-mate and fellow American Floyd Landis, who was fourth on the day.

Halgand of the Jean Delatour team crossed the line of the 209km stage in five hours nine minutes 36 seconds, 19 seconds ahead of Stephane Heulot, Frederic Bessy and Landis.

The four riders were part of a 16-man breakaway that went clear early in the stage.

Armstrong's lead was slashed in the mountains
The group's lead had grown to 11 minutes before the first climb of the day, La C�te de la Taverne, but Armstrong's US Postal team gave chase to save the yellow jersey and the group's lead started to melt away.

Halgand reacted by breaking away on the last climb, le Col de Cordobin.

Heulot tried to follow but could not catch him in the descent to Digne-Les-Bains although he just managed to pip Bessy and Landis for second place.

Friday's 204km fifth stage from Digne-Les-Bains to Grenoble goes over four steep climbs - Col du Labouret, Col du Festre, Cote dela Maserange and Cote de la Mure.

The race ends on Sunday in Geneva.

Leading results of the 206km fourth stage of the Dauphine Libere between L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Digne-les-Bains.

1. Patrice Halgand (France), Jean Delatour, five hours nine minutes and 36 seconds
2. Stephane Heulot (France), BigMat-Auber 93, 19 seconds behind
3. Frederic Bessy (France), Credit Agricole
4. Floyd Landis (US), US Postal, both same time
5. Koos Moerenhout (Netherlands), Domo-Farm Frites, 1:24
6. Thomas Bodo (France), La Francaise des Jeux 7. Christophe Oriol (France), AG2r Prevoyance, both same time
8. Nicki Sorensen (Denmark), CSC-Tiscali, 3:03
9. Baden Cooke (France), La Francaise des Jeux, 3:59
10. Richard Virenque (France), Jean Delatour, same time

Overall standings:

1. Lance Armstrong (US), US Postal, 15 hours 11 minutes
2. Floyd Landis (US), US Postal, 16 seconds behind
3. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain), Euskaltel, 1:12
4. Denis Menchov (Russia), Ibanesto.com, 1:59
5. Christophe Moreau (France), Credit Agricole, 2:18
6. Oscar Sevilla (Spain), Kelme, 2:57
7. Aitor Kintana (Spain), BigMat-Auber 93, 3:07
8. David Millar (Britain), Cofidis, same time
9. Felix Garcia-Casas (Spain), Bigmat-Auber 93, 3:15
10. Andrei Kivilev (Kazakhstan), Cofidis, 3:22


	Links to more Cycling stories