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Schumacher wins the stage 4 time trial and takes the yellow

By VeloNews.com
Published: Jul. 8, 2008
2008 Tour de France, stage 4: Schumacher celebrates.
2008 Tour de France, stage 4: Schumacher celebrates.
Photo: Graham Watson

Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) rode to a dominant — if surprising — victory in stage 4 of the Tour de France on Tuesday, taking the yellow jersey from overnight leader Romain Feillu (Agritubel).

The German posted the fastest time by far in the 29.5km individual time trial, 35:44, some 18 seconds faster than green-jersey Kim Kirchen (Team Columbia) and David Millar (Garmin-Chipotle), and a further nine seconds quicker than overall contender Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).

After starting the stage in 24th overall, 1:52 behind Feillu, Schumacher found himself slipping into the maillot jaune.

And Schumacher says he won't give it up without a fight.

"I will give all to defend the jersey," he said. "When I was up there on the podium to receive the maillot jaune, my hair was standing on end. I felt good on the bike today and because the distance wasn’t so long, I was able to maintain a good rhythm throughout the course. Tomorrow is a stage for the sprinters, so I will try to defend the jersey at Super-Besse. I’m not climber, but that climb to Super-Besse is one that suits my characteristics."

Team Columbia's Kim Kirchen was second on the day, at 18 seconds.

"I’m in a good moment in form right now," Kirchen said. "I’ve reached my objective by staying in shot of the jersey going into Super-Besse ... My legs are feeling better in the mountains this year, so today was a confirmation that the form is good."

Tuesday's course through Cholet, a big-ringer from start to finish, followed a triangular route: 12km on a winding back road to St. Andre-de-la-Marche, a 6km leg to the south with the only significant hill, and a straight, fast 11.5km blast back to town on a wide main road. The finish was on the Avenue Marceau, just across the Parc de Moine from the start house.

2008 Tour de France, stage 4: Danny Pate in the time trial.
2008 Tour de France, stage 4: Danny Pate in the time trial.
Photo: Agence France Presse

Once again, a Garmin-Chipotle rider played a prominent role early on. Former U23 world time-trial champ Danny Pate set the early best time of 36:54, knocking Stef Clement (Bouygues Telecom) out of the hot seat by 24 seconds, before being toppled himself by French national time-trial champ Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), who crossed two seconds quicker.

Pate’s teammate Magnus Backstedt, who was 44 seconds slower than the American, said he hit speeds of more than 50 mph at times on the back half of the course.

"There are patchy winds, gusts from varying direction," Backstedt said. "It is super fast coming back over the last part. I topped out at just over 82kph on a false-flat descent."

CSC’s Jens Voigt was certainly showing some speed along the course, setting the top times at the first two checkpoints and ripping past his two-minute man, Garmin’s Julian Dean. And at the finish, he shoved Chavanel out of the hot seat with a 36:19, 33 seconds faster than the Frenchman.

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) was the first of the overall favorites to make a mark, pipping Voigt by a second and a half to take the lead just as stage fave Fabian Cancellara (CSC) left the start house. And turnabout proved fair play as Cancellara hit the line just a second faster than the Russian.

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But then Gerolsteiner’s Schumacher came roaring down the Avenue Marceau to blow Cancellara right out of his aero booties, turning an astounding 35:44 to take the hot seat for good.

"I’m not a robot," said Cancellara. "I'm not a machine. I don’t know what happened. I felt good, but I couldn't get my speed going. I'm disappointed. I'm the defending world champion. I'm not here just to show off my jersey. I wanted to win."

The real race, the one among the GC favorites, saw Evans taking time on all his rivals, including former yellow jersey Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), who finished 1:34 off the pace and conceded more than a minute to the Australian.

"It's a good start but we're a long, long way to Paris," said Evans. "For now, it's a good start. Every second, and every minute I can gain on him (Valverde) is very good."

Garmin’s Millar also benefited from a strong performance, moving up to third overall at 12 seconds behind Schumacher and tied with Kirchen.

But he admitted Schumacher's display had stunned him.

"He's already done some great time trials but for sure he wasn't among the big favorites," said the 31-year-old Scot.

"I'm very happy. I've worked very hard for this time trial today. I'm getting close to my best, which is good. If I finished third it's because the first two guys were better than me."

And as for the former race leader, Feillu said he was content with what he called "a magical day" in the yellow jersey, finishing nearly five minutes down on Schumacher and slipping to 41st overall at 3:07.

"The entire team was encouraging me to do as well as I could," he said. "I knew it would be difficult. The fans were cheering me all the way. It was a magical day, one I will never forget." —European correspondent Andrew Hood and Agence France Presse contributed to this report.

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