CHOLET (France), July 9: German Stefan Schumacher caught the favourites out to snatch the Tour de France overall leader’s yellow jersey with victory in the fourth stage, a 29.5-km time trial around Cholet on Tuesday.

The Gerolsteiner rider clocked a best time of 35 minutes and 44 seconds on a windswept course at an average speed of 49.534 kph to beat Luxembourg’s Kim Kirchen of Team Columbia by 18 seconds.

Briton David Millar of the Garmin-Chipotle team came home third, also 18 seconds behind Schumacher.

The trio occupy the three first places in the overall standings, with Schumacher leading Kirchen and Millar by 12 seconds.

Australian Cadel Evans underlined his credentials by taking fourth place 27 seconds off the pace.

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde had a relatively disappointing run, losing one minute and seven seconds to Evans.Italian Damiano Cunego hung on well, losing only 58 seconds to Evans.

Stage favourite Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland finished fifth, 33 seconds off the pace.

On a course that was tailor-made for the twice time trial world champion, Rabobank’s Denis Menchov of Russia set the race favourites’ pace with a time of 36:18.

Italy’s Riccardo Ricco, second in the Giro d’Italia, finished three minutes and 36 seconds behind the stage winner.

Results:

1. Stefan Schumacher (Germany/Gerolsteiner) 35 mins 44 sec; 2. Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg/Columbia) +18 sec; 3. David Millar (Britain/Garmin-Chipotle) same time; 4. Cadel Evans (Australia/Silence-Lotto) +27”; 5. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland/Team CSC) +33”; 6. Denis Menchov (Russia/Rabobank) +34”; 7. Jens Voigt (Germany/Team CSC) +35”; 8. Christian Vandevelde (US/ Garmin-Chipotle) +37”; 9. George Hincapie (US/Columbia) +41”; 10. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Liquigas) +47”; 11. Thomas Lovkvist (Sweden/Columbia) same time; 12. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) +50”; 13. Sylvain Chavanel (France/Cofidis) +1:08”; 14. Danny Pate (US/Garmin-Chipotle) +1:10”; 15. Stijn Devolder (Belgium/Quick-Step) +1:18”; 16. Maxime Monfort (Belgium/Cofidis) +1:24”; 17. Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre) +1:26”; 18. Oscar Pereiro (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) +1:28”; 19. Sebastian Lang (Germany/Gerolsteiner) +1:29”; 20. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) same time; 21. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +1:31”; 22. Stef Clement (Netherlands/Bouygues Telecom) +1:34”; 23. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d’Epargne) same time; 24. Niki Terpstra (Netherlands/Milram) +1:38”; 25. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy/Lampre) +1:41”; 26. Christophe Riblon (France/AG2R) +1:42”; 27. Mikel Astarloza (Spain/Euskaltel) same time; 28. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Team CSC) +1:43”; 29. Alessandro Ballan (Italy/Lampre) +1:45”; 30. Rubens Bertogliati (Switzerland/Saunier Duval) +1:46”.—Reuters