BENNATI TAKES VUELTA STAGE WIN AFTER CRASH-TORN FINALE

Daniele Bennati tour of spain stage four

Stage four photo gallery>>

It was supposed to be a straightforward transition stage. But even if Daniele Bennati won as expected, a late crash on stage four left favourites Carlos Sastre and Alberto Contador battered and bruised - and thanking their lucky stars they did not fare any worse.

Valverde, Contador and Sastre lost 19 seconds on the first riders across the line, Robert Gesink (Rabobank) 42 seconds, Damiano Cunego (Lampre) lost 2-16 and Andreas Klöden (Astana) lost 4-12.

Wednesday's stage, however, is definitely not for the sprinters. A 42 kilometre time trial through largely flat terrain round the town of Ciudad Real will force the gc contenders to show their hands - and big time.

TOUR OF SPAIN 2008: STAGE FOUR RESULTS
Córdoba-Puertollano
1. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 170.3km in 4h 27min 54secs

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE FOUR
1. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas in 13h 23min 57secs

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 48secs

Tour of Spain 2008

Jose Antonio Lopez went on a day-long break, but was caught just 6km before the line

Tour of Spain 2008

Peloton, stage four

Tour of Spain 2008

Paolo Bettini cools off

Tour of Spain 2008

Britain's Jeremy Hunt

Photos by Graham Watson

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TOUR OF SPAIN 2008

STAGE REPORTS

Stage three: Boonen bounces back

Stage two: Valverde powers into lead

Stage one: Liquigas are surprise winners

NEWS

Tour of Spain on Eurosport (schedule)

Behind the scenes at the Tour of Spain

Tour of Spain - still a week too long?

Tour of Spain kicks off this weekend

PHOTOS

Stage four

Stage three

Stage two

Stage one

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