Tour of Serbia, Cat 2.5 Yugoslavia, September 21-27

Main Page Stage 4, Belgrad-Zajecar, 235kms Report: After a demanding stage the Finn Kjell Carlström of Swedish Team Wirsbo grabbed the leader's yellow jersey in the Tour of Serbia. Tomorrow's 35 kms ITT will be the decisive stage since Carlström holds the jersey by placing ahead of Slovenians Dvorscik and Slobodnik. The field was blown to pieces in the tough mountains and many riders had flats and other bike problems on the war-torn roads. Russian GC favourite Dimitri Sedun attacked with 90 kms left in the stage and built up a lead of more than six minutes to a chasing group of 19. Most of the chasing work was done by Carlström and his team mates Nilsson and Heinikainen. Sedun was 2.24 after the leader in the GC but only managed to come home 1.26 ahead of the remnants of the chasing group, including the three top riders Carlström, Dvorscik and Slobodnik. Slovenian Nagny sprinted strongest for second place, Carlström coming in as fourth. The leader Lewandowski lost 21 minutes. The Swedish team also tops the sprints competition for the blue jersey by Stefan Adamsson as well as the teams competition. "It was really a tough day. The heat, the mountains, the roads and not the least Sedun knocked most riders out," said Carlström. "We didn't get any help from the others and Sedun seems incredibly strong. I will have to do the 35 kms TT of my life tomorrow from Svrljig to Nis to keep the jersey. But I'm in good form and I've heard that a yellow jersey makes wonders and let's hope that is correct," said a smiling Carlström on his way to the press conference. Results: Stage 4, September 25 Belgrad-Zajecar 235kms 1 Dimitri Sedun (Rus) Russia 5.43.21 2 Robert Nagu (Slk) Slovakia 1.26 3 Jan Kruzic (Slk) Duklatel 4 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Team Wirsbo General Classifiaction 1 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Team Wirsbo 18.37.30 2 Milan Dvorscik (Svk) Slovakia 3 Ondrei Slobodnik (Svk) De Nardi Sprints GC: 1 Stefan Adamsson Team Wirsbo SWE 16p 2 Bilas Igor Yougoslavien A 13p Teams GC: 1 Team Wirsbo 55.53.24 2 De Nardi 0.34