Schumacher surprises in Tour de France

CHOLET, France, July 8 (UPI) -- Stefan Schumacher won Tuesday's 17.7-mile time trial with a time that put him in first place overall after four stages of the Tour de France bicycle race.

Schumacher had the fastest time at each checkpoint and averaged 29.7 mph in the time trial at Cholet, France.

"I was feeling motivated and I was also confident on the circuit because I knew that it was good for me on a time trial that's about (18 miles) long," Schumacher said. "The course was up and down with the wind blowing strongly; it's the sort of race that suits my strengths."

Schumacher was timed at 35 minutes, 44 seconds, solidly ahead of Kim Kirchen and David Millar, who both finished in 36:02. Cadel Evans was fourth at 36:11 while pre-race favorite Fabian Cancellara finished fifth 33 seconds behind Schumacher.

The order is the same in the overall Tour de France standings. Schumacher has a 12-second edge over Kirchen and Millar a 21-second advantage on Evans and is 33 seconds ahead of Cancellara.

Wednesday's fifth stage of the Tour de France is a 139-mile run from Cholet to Chateauroux. The 21-stage Tour de France wraps up July 27 in Paris.