Cycling:After yesterday's heroics in claiming a spot on the podium, Ireland's Nicolas Roche continued to impress in the Paris-Nice race but another promising performance was overshadowed by a domineering ride from Alberto Contador.
The Spaniard dominated the fourth stage, winning by over 20 seconds, to also take ownership of the yellow jersey. Alejandro Valverde was second and Samuel Sanchez completed a Spanish 1-2-3 by taking third place in the 173.5-km stage from Maurs to Mende.
Roche came home in 17th place, some 48 seconds behind Contador, but moved up another six places to 15th in the overall standings.
Contador, the two-time Tour de France champion attacked the pack in the final ascent to Mende and beat compatriots Valverde and Sanchez by 10 seconds.
"It was a difficult day. I was not sure what the best tactics was but I tried and I made the difference. I am satisfied," Contador told reporters.
Contador experienced a tough start to the race in gusty winds, freezing temperatures and a crash that left him bruised on Monday.
"It had been very difficult with the crash and the wind. Now, the race is on but there are still three difficult days ahead."
Contador, who cracked in the penultimate stage of the race last year, snatched the yellow jersey from German Jens Voigt and now leads Valverde by 24 seconds, with Czech Roman Kreuziger in third place 25 seconds off the pace.
German Heinrich Haussler, who crashed with Contador on Monday, pulled out after 35 km with a knee injury.
A group of seven led by France's Jerome Pineau broke away early in the stage and built a gap of four minutes and thirty seconds. But the Saxo Bank and Astana teams stepped up a gear as the peloton caught the fugitives around 15 km from the line.
As expected, Contador made his move midway through the ascent to Mende, a 3.1-km effort at an average gradient of 10.1 per cent. None of his rivals could match his pace.
Voigt cracked along with last year's winner Luis Leon Sanchez of Spain while Valverde and Olympic champion Sanchez could only limit the damage.
Paris-Nice stage four results
1. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana) 4 hrs 26 mins 47 secs
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +10"
3. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel)
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +18"
5. Thomas Voeckler (France / Bbox - Bouygues) +20"
6. Damiano Cunego (Italy / Lampre) +21"
7. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas)
8. Christophe Le Mevel (France / Francaise des Jeux) +29"
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne)
10. Rein Taaramaee (Estonia / Cofidis) +31"
Selected others
17. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +48"
96. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Garmin) +4:49"
Overall standings
1. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana) 17 hrs 07 mins 23 secs
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +24"
3. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Liquigas) +25"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) +28"
5. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +29"
6. Jens Voigt (Germany / Saxo Bank) +34"
7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +36"
8. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Liquigas) +54"
9. David Millar (Britain / Garmin) +1:03"
10. Rein Taaramaee (Estonia / Cofidis) +1:06"
Selected others
15. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) +1:22"
96. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Garmin) +5:50"