Contador takes control of Paris-Nice

The Astana rider attacked 1700 metres from theline to finish 10 seconds ahead of compatriots Alejandro Valverde andSamuel Sanchez after the 173.5 kilometre ride from Maurs-la-Jolie.

Another Spaniard, Joaquim Rodriguez, finished fourth, with Frenchman Thomas Voeckler 18sec off the pace in fifth.

"I didn't feel great," said Contador. "It was cold, really very cold, during the stage. I hope the temperature will increase.

"Paris-Niceisn't over. I even think the hard part is just starting. There arethree difficult stages remaining and you shouldn't forget thatParis-Nice is one of the most difficult races of the season to control."

Overnightleader Jens Voigt of Germany conceded 40 seconds to Contador afterfalling behind during the gruelling 3km climb to the finish line.

Contador,who cracked in the penultimate stage of the race last year, now leadsValverde by 24 seconds, with Czech Roman Kreuziger in third place 25seconds off the pace.

A group of seven led by France's Jerome Pineau broke away early in the stage and built a gap of four minutes and thirty seconds.

But the Saxo Bank and Astana teams stepped up a gear as the peloton caught the fugitives around 15 km from the line.

As expected, Contador made his move midway through the ascent to Mende, a 3.1-km effort at an average gradient of 10.1 per cent.

Hefollowed Christophe Le Mevel when the Frenchman tried his luck in thefirst stages of the climb before leaving everyone for dead when hedecided to accelerate.

None of his rivals could match his pace.

Voigtcracked, along with last year's winner Luis Leon Sanchez of Spain,while Valverde and Olympic champion Sanchez could only limit the damage.

Voigtcrossed the line 44 seconds behind Contador while Sanchez, who lastyear took full advantage of his compatriot's failure in the penultimatestage, was 29 seconds off the winner's pace.

German-AustralianHeinrich Haussler riding for the Cervelo Test Team, who crashed withContador on Monday, pulled out after 35 km with a knee injury.

Stage 4: Maurs - Mende 208km

1Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 4:26:47, 2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa)Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:10, 3 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi, 4Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:18, 5 Thomas Voeckler (Fra)Bbox Bouygues Telecom 0:00:20, 6 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - FarneseVini 0:00:21, 7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - Doimo, 8 Christophe LeMevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:00:29, 9 Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa)Caisse d'Epargne, 10 Reine Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:00:31.

General classification:

1 Alberto Contador (Spa)Astana 17:07:23, 2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:24, 3Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - Doimo 0:00:25, 4 Luis-Leon Sanchez(Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:28, 5 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel -Euskadi 0:00:29, 6 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:34, 7 JoaquimRodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:36, 8 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas -Doimo 0:00:54, 9 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 0:01:03, 10Reine Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 0:01:06.