Twice Tour de France
champion Alberto Contador seized control of the Paris-Nice race when he
snatched a solo win in the fourth stage to lead a Spanish 1-2-3.The
Astana rider attacked the pack in the final ascent to Mende and beat
compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sanchez by 10 seconds.
“It was a difficult day. I was not sure what the best tactics
was but I tried and I made the difference. I am satisfied,” Contador
said. The Spaniard experienced a tough start to the race in gusty winds,
freezing temperatures and a crash that left him bruised on Monday.
Contador, who cracked in the penultimate stage of the race last year,
snatched the yellow jersey from German Jens Voigt and now leads Valverde
by 24 seconds, with Czech Roman Kreuziger in third place 25 seconds off
the pace. German Heinrich Haussler, who crashed with Contador on Monday,
pulled out after 35 km with a knee injury.
