Spain's Jose Antonio Garrido made the most of an early breakaway to win a drastically shortened fourth stage of the Tour of Catalunya on Thursday.

Fellow Spaniard Roberto Heras of the US Postal team, who finished in sixth spot, held off a strong challenge from his rivals and increased his overall race leadership ahead of second-placed Aitor Garmendia from 15 seconds to 31 seconds.

What had promised to be the prize stage of the week-long tour was cut from 197.3 kilometres to just 55 as a result of the decision of the Spanish Association of Professional Cyclists (ACP) to support a general strike called by trades unions.

A compromise agreement was reached between race organisers and cyclists which meant only those parts of the stage which were in Andorran territory would be ridden.

As a result riders signed in as usual at the start in Barruera in Catalunya and then sped off in team cars to the Andorran border where they mounted their bikes to complete the last 55 kilometres.

Tough climb

The decision took the sting out of what was, on paper, the most attractive stage of the tour, but the cyclists still did their best to provide some excitement.

A string of riders fired off the front of the peloton in order to try to secure a definitive break and the field soon fragmented as it made its way up the first of two first category ascents.

Eventual winner Garrido and fellow countryman Luis Perez reached the peak with a lead of a minute and a half over the chasing group, and then worked together on the final tough climb to maintain their lead before fighting it out for victory.

Garrido had more left and took the stage ahead of Perez in a time of one hour 39 minutes 23 seconds, with the fast-finishing peloton nearly half a minute behind.

Heras confirmed his fine form by responding to attacks from Garmendia, Mikel Zarrabeitia and Leonardo Piepoli on the slopes of the final ascent and remains firm favourite to take his first race victory since he won the Tour of Spain two years ago.

Friday's fifth stage is a 141.3-km run between La Farga Moles in Andorra to Llivia in Catalunya, which contains two tough first category climbs.

Tour of Catalunya

Fourth stage leading results:
(10.8km individual time trial, Sant Climent de Taull to Boi Taull)

1. Jose Antonio Garrido (Spa) Jazztel 1hr 39min 23sec
2. Luis Perez (Spa) s.t.
3. Fernando Escartin (Spa) at 28 sec
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) s.t.
5. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) s.t.
6. Roberto Heras (Spa) 30
7. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) s.t.
8. Dimitri Fofonov (Kaz) 36
9. David Plaza (Spa) 42
10. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) 46.

Overall standings:

1. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal 7hr 11min 56
2. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) at 31
3. Luis Perez (Spa) 44
4. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) 51
5. Fernando Escartin (Spa) 1:00
6. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) 1:04
7. David Plaza (Spa) 1:38
8. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) 1:47
9. Benjamin Noval (Spa) 1:48
10. Jose Antonio Garrido (Spa) 1:51.