BELGIAN GIANNI MEERSMAN clinched stage four of the Paris-Nice as Bradley Wiggins retained his overall lead on Wednesday.
Lotto-Belisol’s Meersman outsprinted Grega Bole (Lampre-ISD) and Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) to clinch the 183-kilometre stage from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Rodez.
Uninvolved in the dogfight at the head of the peloton, Team Sky rider Wiggins came through unscathed and finished 10th to hold a six-second lead over Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider Levi Leipheimer.
As they did during stage three, Movistar, led by Spaniard Jose Ivan Gutierrez, controlled the front of the peloton heading into the uphill finish.
RadioShack-Nissan-Trek’s Andreas Kloeden pushed ahead with two kilometres remaining, but Lampre-ISD pulled him back relatively swiftly.
Rather than risk a lengthy attack, Meersman sat just off the front before launching a perfectly-timed break for the line.
“The team gave me a lot of confidence today and I’m very glad about this victory,” Meersman. “Today I was faster, but I’m just happy that I could win today. I’ve very happy with this victory.”
In touch during the decisive bunched sprint, Ireland’s Nicolas Roche crossed the line in seventh place. He’ll begin tomorrow’s sixth stage – a 178.5km ride from Onet-le-Chateau to Mende – in 27th place overall.
