Nibali takes stage and lead in San Luis, Pozzato shows form

Italian Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) won stage four’s 19.8 kilometer time trail in the Tour de San Luis today, which also proved enough to take away overall race lead from 22-year-old Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto-Fuji). The day wasn’t all bad for the young Spaniard, since he still holds the lead in the mountains competition.

Nibali’s compatriot Filippo Pozzato also had a good ride today, coming in fourth place only 14 seconds off the pace. With his result Pozzato confirms that he’s been working hard over the winter, and is on track for another strong Spring Classics showing. Last year’s campaign saw him win the E3-Prijs, a stage in the Driedaagse De Panne, finish fifth in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) and ride to an impressive second in Paris-Roubaix.

Stage 4 results:
1. Nibali, Vincenzo (Liquigas-Doimo) ITA 0:24:18
2. Bengsch, Robert GER (Germany) to 04
3. Nicasio, Pedro A. BRA (FUNVIC-Pindamonhangaba) 11
4. GIACINTI, Jorge ARG (Scott-Marcondes) 11
5. Pozzato, Filippo ITA (Katusha) 14
6. PEÑA, Victor H. COL (Columbia) 28
7. Serpa, Jose COL (GIOCATTOLI Androni) 30
8. GARRIDO, Martin ARG (Argentina) 31
9. MEDICI, Matias ARG (Scott-Marcondes) 31
10. Botero, Santiago COL (Columbia) 33
32. RASMUSSEN Michael DEN (Miche) at 01:37

General Classification:
1. Nibali, Vincenzo ITA (Liquigas-Doimo) 13:19:04
2. GIACINTI, Jorge ARG (Scott-Marcondes) 26
3. Serpa, Jose COL (GIOCATTOLI Androni) 30
4. ALCOLEA, Arnols CUB (Cuba) 53
5. PEREYRA, Ignacio ARG (Argentina) at 01:10
6. Botero, Santiago COL (Columbia) at 01:14
7. FERNANDEZ, Gerardo ARG (Argentina) at 01:18
8. NAZARET, Magno BRA (Scott-Marcondes) to 01:20
9. Valls, Rafael ESP (Footon-Servetto-Fuji) to 01:22
10. Moyano, Yosu ARG (Argentina) at 01:36
11. SEGOVIA, Jose A. ESP (Galicia Xacobeo) at 01:48
12. RASMUSSEN Michael DEN (Miche) at 01:59

Mountains Classification:
1. Valls, Rafael ESP (Footon-Servetto-Fuji) 10 P.
2. ALCOLEA, Arnols CUB (Cuba) 10 P.
3. MARTINEZ, Yasmani CUB (Cuba) 6 P.
4. RODRIGUEZ, Jackson KEN (Androni-GIOCATTOLI) 6 P.
5. Serpa, Jose COL (Androni-GIOCATTOLI) 4 P.