CSC team rider Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the leader's yellow jersey, and an Astana team rider cycle past sunflower fields during the fourth stage of the 94th Tour de France between Villers-Cotterets and Joigny yesterday. Cancellara retained the yellow jersey. - Reuters

JOIGNY, France (Reuters):

THOR Hushovd from Norway claimed his first victory of the year when he clinched the fourth stage of the Tour de France, a 193-km trek from Villers-Cotterets to Joigny yesterday.

The Credit Agricole rider, who won the green jersey in 2005, launched the bunch sprint 350 metres from the finish line to edge Barloworld's South African rider Robert Hunter for the win.

Spaniard Oscar Freire, who has yet to win a stage this year, was third for the Rabobank team.

Hushovd's fifth victory on the Tour means the Norwegian leapfrogs German Andreas Kloeden for second place overall thanks to time bonuses, with Briton David Millar now out of the top three.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara, who finished safe in the main pack, retained theleader's yellow jersey. Belgian Tom Boonen was a disappointing eighth in the stage but retained the green jersey.

Tribute to teammate

Hushovd, who won last year's opening prologue and the closing sprint on the Champs-Elysees, paid tribute to New Zealand teammate Julian Dean, who piloted him through the pack in the last kilometre.

"He is the best in the world to launch the sprints," said Hushovd.

Frenchman Matthieu Sprick launched a breakaway after 30km and was followed by compatriot Sylvain Chavanel, Spaniards Juan Antonio Flecha and Gorka Verdugo, and Germany's Christian Knees. The fugitives built a four-minute gap but were inexorably swallowed by the peloton with seven kilometre remaining.

The Caisse d'Epargne team were reduced to eight men after Spaniard Xavier Zandio retired with a fractured collarbone following a crash early in the stage.

"He fractured his right collar-bone, he really cannot go on," said manager Jose-Luis Jaimerena. "It is a huge loss for the team because he is a rider who can work on any type of course. It's a pity."

Another rider, Remy di Gregorio of the Francaise des Jeux team, was involved in the crash and sustained an elbow injury.

Di Gregorio, however, managed to reach the finish line almost eight minutes after Hushovd.

Today's fifth stage takes the peloton over 182.5km from Chablis to Autun.