27th Tour Méditerranéen

France, February 9-13, 2000

Stage 4 - February 11: Greasque - La Seyne, 135 km

Steels himself for the win

The Tour of the Mediterranean continued today in similar fashion to the previous two road stages, with the fourth stage ending in another bunch sprint. The stage was run over 135 km, from Greasque to La Seyne sur Mer, and was marked by a by a very long escape by the Dane Jacob Rasmussen (MC J&J) and the Russian Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) who attacked from the eighth kilometer.

The two men very quickly increased their lead on the bunch, which was 3.45 at the half way point. Jacob Rasmussen was then the virtual yellow jersey holder, prompting an immediate reaction by the Spanish ONCE team of race leader Laurent Jalabert. They were helped by the sprinters teams and the break was caught with 17 km to go.

In the remaining kilometers, several attacks were made, by Eddy Seigneur and Laurent Brochard (both Jean Delatour) in particular. However, the high pace of the finish did not allow these two to get clear. In the sprint, Mario Cipollini (Saeco) led out, however he was overtaken by Tom Steels (Mapei-Quick Step) with 200m to go, with Steels holding on to win his first race of the year.

Laurent Jalabert preserved his leaders jersey, but tomorrow he will have to defend it up Mount Faron. The stage will be 147 km in length, going from Londe to Toulon finishing at the top of the Mount, and is normally the decider of the tour.

Results

1. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step			2.29.53 
2. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saceo-Valli&Valli
3. Marco Zanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Pata
4. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2R-Prevoyance
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 
6. Roger Hammond (GBr) Collstrop
7. Bradley McGee (Aus) Française Des Jeux
8. Zoran Klemencic (Slo) Vini Caldirola-Sidermec 
9. Jan Zvorada (Slk) Lampre-Daikin
10. Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Colpack

General classifcation after stage 4:

1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE		 		8.06.26 
2. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) ONCE
3. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE
4. Inigo Cuesta (Spa) ONCE
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 		   0.03
6. Bobby Julich (USA) Credit Agricole  
7. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Credit Agricole  
8. Jens Voigt (Ger) Credit Agricole  
9. Anthony Morin (Fra) Credit Agricole 
10. Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Credit Agricole