Hushovd takes Tour de France fourth stage

JOIGNY, France, July 11 (UPI) -- Thor Hushovd won the 116-mile fourth stage of the Tour de France Wednesday but Fabian Cancellara retained his overall lead.

Hushovd's victory in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 47 seconds came in the stage that took the tour riders over a route east of Paris from Viller-Cotterer to Joigny, France. Cancellara owns a 29-second lead over Hushovd and a 33-second edge over Andreas Kloden.

Hushovd benefited from strong lead work from Credit Agricole teammate Julian Dean to claim the stage.

While Quickstep and T-Mobile led the peloton in the closing sections of the race, Credit Agricole and Dean kept Hushovd in position for a move with 300 meters to race. Hushovd held off Robert Hunter to claim his fifth career Tour de France stage victory.

The Tour de France is scheduled to continue Thursday with a 110-mile run from Chablis to Autun. The 20-stage Tour de France is to wrap up July 29 in Paris.