No Spills, No Thrills

Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

After the first three stages of this year's Tour, stage four was kinda boring. One small breakaway, caught in last 10 km and the entire peloton finishes together.  Mark Cavendish did not have the legs to even finish in the top 10 as Alessandro Petacchi secured his second stage victory of the Tour beating out Julian Dean and Robbie McEwen.
There were no changes in the General Classification (yellow jersey)
Stages five and six promise to be more of the same.  The difference in this year and last year though, is Cavendish.  His dominance has diminished and maybe disappeared all together.  This will make the sprint finishes more exciting and wide open.
Prediction for stage five:  A battle of the sprinters.  Tyler Farrar is still hurting, but teammates Julian Dean and Robbie Hunter looked impressive today, Thor Hushovd will try to add to his green jersey lead and Robbie McEwen has been there at the end the past two days, but stage five with a series of small climbs may favor Oscar Freire.

Results - Stage 4

1	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	3:34:55
2	Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions
3	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team
4	Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
5	Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions
6	Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
7	Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
8	Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
9	Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
10	Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
11	Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
12	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
13	Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
14	Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
15	Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'Epargne
16	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
17	Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
18	Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team
19	Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
20	Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step

Point Standings (Green Jersey) 

1	Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team	80	pts
2	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	70
3	Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha	62
4	Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team	56
5	Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	49
6	Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step	44
7	Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	40
8	Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	39
9	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	38
10	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team	38
11	Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank	37
12	Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto	36
13	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions	30
14	Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia	30
15	Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions	30
16	Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank	24
17	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team	24
18	Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux	24
19	Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions	22
20	Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - Transitions	21