Fabio Sacchi says he is enjoying the scorching heat of South Australia that baked the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under peloton with temperatures reaching 110 degrees Friday.

But when asked about the heat Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen is putting upon his overall lead in the six-stage race that ends on Sunday, the Saeco leader becomes a bit wary.

After the 144km fourth stage from Unley to Goolwa on Friday, Sacchi’s overall lead on McEwen dropped from 10 seconds to eight.

Racing into a head wind, Australia’s Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) won the leg in a sprint from Graeme Brown (Panaria), Stuart O’Grady (Crédit Agricole) and McEwen (Lotto).

This time it's Cooke

Photo: Graham Watson

With time bonuses of 6, 4 and 2 seconds on offer to the first three places at the two intermediate sprints and finishes of the last two stages, Sacchi’s lead is far from safe.

“To win here, you have to be leading on Sunday. My condition is good and so is the weather,” he said. “I am looking forward to tomorrow (Saturday). It will be good to have some fun.”

The tour continues on Saturday with the 147km Willunga circuit race, highlighted by the 7km climb up to the top of Old Willunga Hill with 20km to go.

Sunday’s finale in Adelaide is a 90km criterium which traditionally attract crowds of up to 100,000 people.

McEwen’s two seconds gain in today’s fourth stage came with his second place in the second intermediate sprint at 64.8km.

At that point, Australian Adrian Laidler (Uni SA) was well into his day-long solo attack that started at 2.8km and lasted 130km.

Starting the day in 78th overall at 30 minutes and 51 seconds to Sacchi his break was no threat to the Italian. He gained a maximum lead of 11:20 at 69km.

Sacchi was happy to let the 21-year-old Laidler, Australia’s Under-23 time trial champion, ride away alone across the flat farmlands towards the mouth of the Murray River.

Laidler’s break took away McEwen’s chance of grabbing maximum bonuses, as he passed through each sprint in first place.

Laidler spent much of the day on his own and did Sacchi a favor in the process

Photo: Graham Watson

The brave move by the young South Australian also gave Sacchi’s Saeco team a chance to rest for the final two stages to come this weekend.

At the first passage through the town of Galwa where a 24km finishing circuit began, Laidler had a three-minute lead. He was caught with 11km to go on Macfarlane Hill.

“The team didn’t work too much. I spoke with Guido Bontempi and we decided that we wanted Laidler to win after his big effort,” he said.

Saachi took the chance to escape with nine riders with eight kilometers to go, but that break was quickly caught.

“I felt very strong, but I looked around and saw it was McEwen and O’Grady leading the chase,” he said.

His capture ensured another bunch sprint, with Cooke’s win coming after recovering from a “hectic” last kilometer.

Stage 4 - January 24: Unley - Goolwa, 144km
1. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com, 144km in 3:33:59 (40.4kph),
2. Graeme Brown (Aus), Panaria Fiordo
3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole
4. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Lotto Domo
5. Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), United Water
6. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep-Davitamon
7. Luke Roberts (Aus), UniSA
8. Mark Scanlon (Irl), Ag2R
9. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Ag2R
10. Allan Davis (Aus), ONCE Eroski
11. Mikel Astarloza (Spa), Ag2R
12. Andy Flickinger (Fra), Ag2R
13. Stefen Wesemann (Ger), Telekom
14. Mark Renshaw (Aus), United Water
15. Brendan Cato (Aus), United Water
16. Nicolas Portal (Fra), Ag2R
17. Andrea Tafi (I), CSC
18. Dirk Reichl (Ger), Telekom
19. Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA
20. Cedric Herve (Fra), Credit Agricole
21. Christian Pepoli (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
22. Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski
23. David Canada (Spa), Quickstep-Davitamon
24. Bobby Julich (USA), Telekom
25. Christopher Jenner (NZl), Credit Agricole
26. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep-Davitamon
27. Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
28. Hans De Clercq (B), Lotto Domo
29. Gianpaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski
30. Lennie Kristensen (Den), CSC
31. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R
32. Kurt Van De Wouwer (B), Quickstep-Davitamon
33. Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo
34. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom
35. Patrick Jonker (Aus), UniSA
36. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA
37. Joerg Ludewig (Ger), Saeco-Longoni Sport
38. Cadel Evans (Aus), Telekom
39. Brad McGee (Aus), FDJeux.com
40. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Ag2R
41. Angel Vicioso (Spa), ONCE Eroski
42. Stefan Schumacher (Ger), Telekom
43. Christian Werner (Ger), Telekom
44. Inigo Chaurreau (Spa), Ag2R
45. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa), ONCE Eroski
46. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra), Credit Agricole
47. Tristan Hoffman (Ned), CSC
48. Geert Van Bondt (B), CSC
49. Kai Hundertmarck (Ger), Telekom, at 0:10
50. Bernhard Eisel (Aut), FDJeux.com, at 0:14
51. Regis Lhuillier (Fra), FDJeux.com, at 0:16
52. Igor Astarloa (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 0:23
53. Arvis Piziks (Lat), CSC, at 1:55
54. Jens Voigt (Ger), Credit Agricole, at 3:47
55. Kevin Van Impe (B), Lotto Domo
56. Stephen Cunningham (Aus), UniSA
57. Glenn d'Hollander (B), Lotto Domo
58. Wim Vansevenant (B), Lotto Domo
59. David Betts (Aus), United Water
60. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski
61. Lilian Jegou (Fra), Credit Agricole
62. Julian Dean (NZl), CSC
63. Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski
64. Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den), CSC
65. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Panaria Fiordo
66. Scott Davis (Aus), Panaria Fiordo
67. Aaron Kemps (Aus), United Water, at 4:05
68. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus), United Water
69. Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA, at 7:11
70. Peter Dawson (Aus), United Water, at 7:15
71. Davide Bramati (I), Quickstep-Davitamon
72. Dario Pieri (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
73. Nicola Gavazzi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
74. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep-Davitamon
75. Stefano Zanini (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
76. Ruben Bongiorno (Arg), Panaria Fiordo
77. Thierry Marichal (B), Lotto Domo
78. Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex), Panaria Fiordo
79. Filippo Perfetto (I), Panaria Fiordo
80. Jacky Durand (Fra), FDJeux.com
81. Christophe Moreau (Fra), Credit Agricole
82. Jakob Piil (Den), CSC
83. Mickael Pichon (Fra), FDJeux.com
84. Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra), FDJeux.com
85. Juan Fuentes (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport
86. Matt Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com
87. Gert Steegmans (B), Lotto Domo
88. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto Domo
89. Sergey Matveyev (Ukr), Panaria Fiordo
DNF Bram Tankink (Ned), Quickstep-Davitamon

- Jacob's Creek General classification after stage 4
1. Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, 11:58:33
2. Robbie McEwen (Aus), Lotto Domo, at 0:08
3. Andy Flickinger (Fra), Ag2R, at 0:17
4. Cedric Herve (Fra), Credit Agricole, at 0:18
5. Mikel Astarloza (Spa), Ag2R, at 0:20
6. Lennie Kristensen (Den), CSC
7. Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA, at 0:23
8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole, at 0:25
9. Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski, at 0:27
10. Luke Roberts (Aus), UniSA, at 0:28
11. Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom
12. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 0:29
13. Angel Vicioso (Spa), ONCE Eroski
14. Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA
15. Tristan Hoffman (Ned), CSC
16. Geert Van Bondt (B), CSC
17. Cadel Evans (Aus), Telekom
18. Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo
19. Patrick Jonker (Aus), UniSA
20. Gianpaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski, at 0:30
21. Mark Scanlon (Irl), Ag2R, at 0:33
22. David Canada (Spa), Quickstep-Davitamon
23. Kurt Van De Wouwer (B), Quickstep-Davitamon
24. Inigo Chaurreau (Spa), Ag2R
25. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra), Credit Agricole
26. Stefen Wesemann (Ger), Telekom, at 0:39
27. Brad McGee (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 0:42
28. Bernhard Eisel (Aut), FDJeux.com, at 0:54
29. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 1:59
30. Andrea Tafi (I), CSC
31. Tom Boonen (B), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 2:05
32. Dirk Reichl (Ger), Telekom
33. Erki Putsep (Est), Ag2R
34. Nicolas Portal (Fra), Ag2R
35. Joerg Ludewig (Ger), Saeco-Longoni Sport
36. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Ag2R
37. Christopher Jenner (NZl), Credit Agricole
38. Bobby Julich (USA), Telekom
39. Christian Werner (Ger), Telekom
40. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa), ONCE Eroski
41. Kai Hundertmarck (Ger), Telekom, at 2:15
42. Hans De Clercq (B), Lotto Domo, at 2:16
43. Regis Lhuillier (Fra), FDJeux.com, at 2:21
44. Graeme Brown (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 2:27
45. Igor Astarloa (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 3:40
46. Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den), CSC, at 4:16
47. Jens Voigt (Ger), Credit Agricole, at 4:18
48. Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski, at 4:46
49. Scott Davis (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 5:52
50. Wim Vansevenant (B), Lotto Domo, at 6:42
51. David Betts (Aus), United Water, at 6:49
52. Glenn d'Hollander (B), Lotto Domo, at 7:04
53. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa), ONCE Eroski
54. Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep-Davitamon, at 9:20
55. Peter Dawson (Aus), United Water, at 9:29
56. Sergey Matveyev (Ukr), Panaria Fiordo, at 9:31
57. Stefano Zanini (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 10:32
58. Gert Steegmans (B), Lotto Domo
59. Allan Davis (Aus), ONCE Eroski, at 11:34
60. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Ag2R
61. Mark Renshaw (Aus), United Water
62. Christian Pepoli (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport
63. Brendan Cato (Aus), United Water
64. Stefan Schumacher (Ger), Telekom
65. Arvis Piziks (Lat), CSC, at 13:29
66. Stephen Cunningham (Aus), UniSA, at 15:20
67. Brett Lancaster (Aus), Panaria Fiordo, at 15:21
68. Lilian Jegou (Fra), Credit Agricole
69. Kevin Van Impe (B), Lotto Domo, at 16:33
70. Nicola Gavazzi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 18:49
71. Mickael Pichon (Fra), FDJeux.com
72. Christophe Moreau (Fra), Credit Agricole
73. Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex), Panaria Fiordo
74. Davide Bramati (I), Quickstep-Davitamon
75. Matt Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com, at 20:00
76. Dario Pieri (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 20:01
77. Juan Fuentes (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport
78. Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA, at 37:56
79. Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), United Water, at 41:50
80. Julian Dean (NZl), CSC, at 45:39
81. Aaron Kemps (Aus), United Water, at 45:57
82. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus), United Water
83. Ruben Bongiorno (Arg), Panaria Fiordo, at 49:07
84. Filippo Perfetto (I), Panaria Fiordo
85. Thierry Marichal (B), Lotto Domo
86. Jakob Piil (Den), CSC
87. Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra), FDJeux.com
88. Jacky Durand (Fra), FDJeux.com
89. Nick Gates (Aus), Lotto Domo

- SA Lotteries Sprints classification
1 Robbie McEwen (Aus), Lotto Domo - 24 pts
2 Andrea Tafi (I), CSC - 22
3 Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com - 16
4 Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport - 12
5 Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA - 12
6 Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA - 12
7 Matt Wilson (Aus), FDJeux.com - 12
8 Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Credit Agricole - 8
9 Andy Flickinger (Fra), Ag2R - 6
10 Gianpaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski - 6
11 Cedric Herve (Fra), Credit Agricole - 4
12 Xavier Florencio (Spa), ONCE Eroski - 4
13 Graeme Brown (Aus), Panaria Fiordo - 4
14 Jens Voigt (Ger), Credit Agricole - 4
15 Luca Paolini (I), Quickstep-Davitamon - 4
16 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), United Water - 4
17 Luke Roberts (Aus), UniSA - 2
18 Daniele Nardello (I), Telekom - 2
19 Stephen Cunningham (Aus), UniSA - 2

- Laubman & Pank King of the Mountain classification
1 Lennie Kristensen (Den), CSC - 36 pts
2 Cadel Evans (Aus), Telekom - 28
3 Russell Van Hout (Aus), UniSA - 16
4 Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Panaria Fiordo - 12
5 Gianpaolo Caruso (I), ONCE Eroski - 8
6 Inigo Chaurreau (Spa), Ag2R - 8
7 Igor Astarloa (Spa), Saeco-Longoni Sport - 8
8 Kurt Van De Wouwer (B), Quickstep-Davitamon - 6
9 Brad McGee (Aus), FDJeux.com - 6
10 Regis Lhuillier (Fra), FDJeux.com - 6
11 Fabio Sacchi (I), Saeco-Longoni Sport - 4

- Share the Road U23 rider classification
1 Gene Bates (Aus), UniSA, at 11:59:02
2 Bernhard Eisel (Aut), FDJeux.com, at 0:25
3 Dirk Reichl (Ger), Telekom, at 1:36
4 David Betts (Aus), United Water, at 6:20
5 Peter Dawson (Aus), United Water, at 9:00
6 Mark Renshaw (Aus), United Water, at 11:05
7 Brendan Cato (Aus), United Water
8 Stefan Schumacher (Ger), Telekom
9 Kevin Van Impe (B), Lotto Domo, at 16:04
10 Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA, at 37:27
11 Aaron Kemps (Aus), United Water, at 45:28
12 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus), United Water
13 Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra), FDJeux.com, at 48:38


- Century 21 Most aggressive rider
1 Adrian Laidler (Aus), UniSA

- Monroe Teams classification
1 Ag2r Prevoyance, at 35:56:52
2 Team CSC, at 0:05
3 Credit Agricole, at 0:09
4 UniSA, at 0:14
5 ONCE-Eroski, at 0:18
6 Quick Step-Davitamon, at 0:22
7 Team Telekom, at 0:24
8 FDJeux.com, at 2:04
9 Saeco-Longoni Sport, at 3:03
10 Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo, at 7:13
11 Lotto-Domo, at 8:05
12 United Water, at 14:49