Evans outfoxes Contador on Tour fourth stage

Astana's Alexandre Vinokourov was third while race leader Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo), under threat of losing the yellow jersey, held on to the race lead after the 172.5 km ride from Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne.

Hushovd defied predictions to finish sixth on the stage and keep his one second lead on Evans intact ahead of the fifth stage to Cap Frehel.

"Everyone wants to take the jersey off me, but I'm going to hold on to it as long as possible," said Hushovd.

Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), who won the opening stage on a similar finish at Mont des Alouettes, was expected for a repeat on his 29th birthday.

But on a finish designed for the 'punchers' who excel in the hilly one-day classics, he could only finish in fifth place as Evans continued his perfect start to the race.

"It's a a big surprise, I still quite can't believe it myself," said Evans, who overcame extra stress on the way to the climb when he had to change bikes and get back into the peloton.

"With 15km to go I think someone crashed into my rear derailleur (gear mechanism) and I had to change bikes. (Team-mate) Marcus Burghardt helped me out... he is my hero today."

Evans prevailed in a photo finish after racing side by side to the finish following an aggressive Contador who initiated the attacks on the final climb in a desperate bid to claw back time lost in the first two stages.

The day's break included Jeremy Roy (FDJ) , Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel), Imanol Erviti (Movistar) and Biel Kadri (AG2R) who fell to te peloton just before the climb to to Mur-de-Bretagne.

The four riders broke away early in the stage, which was affected by wind and rain, building a lead reaching four minutes before Omega Pharma-Lotto and Garmin-Cervelo combined to bring them back.

Evans came close to not contesting the final after stopping due to mechanical difficulties which left him stranded on the road for a short time.

However a quick change of bike and high quality support from teammate Marcus Burghardt saw him rejoin the peloton before the final charge to the finish.

Another teammate, George Hincapie, then took over pacing duties prior to the climb, but once at the foot of the steep 2km ascent all the favourites were bunched together.

Despite Contador taking things in hand when he moved to the front of a rapidly dwindling group 1.3km from the finish, Evans and Gilbert never looked threatened by the Spaniard.

Evans edged just a bike length in front of the group inside the final few hundred metres as the climb petered out, with Contador on his wheel and Vinokourov just behind.

Contador made a bid to pass Evans metres before the finish line, only for Evans to win by a few centimetres to claim his first win of this year's race.

Contador thought he had the victory but replays showed Evans holding on to win by a narrow margin.

"I didn't know if I was going to have anything left to give in the final after nearly 180km with crosswinds and headwinds," added tEvans, who took over the 'King of the Mountains' polka dot jersey from Gilbert.

"The first goal today was to avoid problems, and then go for the stage if possible. For me personally, the objectives are always the same -- our plans in the GC (general classification)."

Contador and Evans both took time from key rivals like Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Ivan Basso (Liquigas) and Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek). Wiggins finished 6 seconds in arrears while Basso and Schleck trailed home 8 seconds off the pace.

Jurgen Van de Walle of Belgium became the first rider to pull out of the race due to injuries sustained in a crash on Saturday.

Stage 4: 172km, Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne.

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC 4:11:39
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana
4 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky
5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Garmin-Cervelo
7 Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
8 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10 Andreas Kloden (Ger) RadioShack

General classification:

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Garmin-Cervelo 13:58:25
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC 0:00:01
3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:00:04
4 David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:08
5 Andreas Kloden (Ger) RadioShack 0:00:10
6 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky
7 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky 0:00:12
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky
9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
10 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek