Top 5 results in the 199.5-kms 4th stage between Brioude and St Vallier:

1. Michael Albasini (Switzerland, OGE)

2. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kazakhstan, AST)

3. Peter Velits (Slovakia, OPQ)

4. Enrico Gasparotto (Italy, AST)

5. Robert Gesink (Netherlands, BLA)

Swiss Michael Albasini (OGE) wins the 199.5-kms 4th stage of Paris-Nice.

Robert Gesink (BLA) who lost a minute in stage 3, is now alone in the lead.

... and the restless Chavanel tries again. Coppel attacks in turn, followed by Robert Gesink (BLA).

3 kms to go and Lieuwe Westra (VCD) is back in the front bunch. It is not the case of David Malacarne (EUC), third overall, who is 25 seconds off the pace.

... and Amael Moinard (BMC) has taken his turn at the front of he peloton behind Chavanel. Jerome Coppel (COF) makes a brave attempt, but to no avail.

Lieuwe Westra (VCD), second overall last year, missed a corner and is now slightly dropped by the leading bunch.

Sylvain Chavanel (OPQ) leads the way in tjhe descent, followed by Scarponi and Porte. But race leader Andrew Talansky (GRS) is not far. 

Results at the top of  the 2nd category Cote de la Sizeranne (Km 191):

1. Michele Scarponi (LAM) 7 points

2. Richie Porte (SKY) 5 pts

3. Andreas Kloeden (RLT) 3 pts

4. Andryi Grivko (AST) 2 pts

Maxime Monfort (RLT), who lost vital time when he crashed in the prologue, attacked. But he was quickly reined in.

Ivan Santaromita (BMC) is working hard at the front of the bunch as the race tackles the last climb, Cote de la Sizeranne.

Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Ivan Basso (CAN), Thomas De Gendt (VCD) and Nairo Quintana (MOV) are among riders now dropped by the main pack.

Voeckler, Dupont, Tschopp and Meersman have been reined in with 14 kms to go by the main pack, led by BMC riders. 

The peloton is only 10 seconds adrift with 15 kms to go.

Only some 30 riders are left in the Yellow Jersey group while a strong grupetto, including green jersey holder Elia Viviani (CAN) are 2:40 adrift with 20 kms to go.

BMC riders and especially Amael Moinard are leading the chase, some 25 seconds behind the four escapees.

20 kms to go and in the descent, Johann Tschopp (IAM) and Gianni Meersman (OPQ) have made up their gap with Thomas Voeckler (EUC) and Hubert Dupont (ALM). The peloton is 25 seconds adrift.

Results at the top of  the 2nd category Cote de Talencieux (Km 176.5):

1. Voeckler 7 points

2. Dupont 5 pts

3. Tschopp 3 pts

4. Meersman 2 pts

5. Amael Moinard (BMC) 1 pt

The peloton 35 seconds behind.

Gianni Meersman (OPQ) and Johann Tschopp (IAM) are still between Voceckler and Dupont and the peloton.

The former escapees are now being caught one after the other, except for Voeckler and Dupont. Movistar and Euskaltel riders are leading the bunch.

Voeckler and Dupont lead their former breakaway companions by 15 seconds. The peloton is 30 seconds adrift.

25 kms to go and Voeckler attacks, followed by Dupont.

The seven are tackling the penultimate climb, Cote de Talencieux, with a 45 seconds lead over the main bunch.

In a similar finale to St Vallier on the Dauphine last year, Cadel Evans had broken clear to win ahead of Jerome Coppel and Andrey Kashechkin.

The lead of Voeckler, Dupont, Tschopp, Morkov, Sicard, Meersman and Barguil is now down to the minute (km 167).

Two riders from the Italian outfit are at the front of the bunch in the descent towards the river Rhone.

Thirty nations were left in the race at the start from Brioude.

39 - France (42 at the start and abandons by Fedrigo -FDJ- in stage 1, Bouhanni -FDJ- and Pichot -EUC- in stage 2).

21 - Belgium (22 at the start and abandon by Seeldrayers -AST- DNS stage 2)

19 - Spain (20 at the start, and abandon by Gutierrez -MOV- in stage 3)

18 - Italy

13 - Netherlands

10 - Australia

7 - Denmark, U.S. (8 at start and abandon by Rathe -GRS- in...

The average speed after four hours in the stage was 39.1 kph.

On the sprint line (Km 157), the peloton was 1:20 behind the break.

Result of the second  intermediate sprint in St Romain d'Ay (Km 157):

1. Voeckler 3 points, 3 secs

2. Sicard 2 pts, 2 secs

3. Dupont 1 pt, 1 sec

The Euskaltel rider is back with his fellow escapees. The peloton lies 1:30 adrift.

Romain Sicard (EUS) has been dropped by his six breakaway companions. Six men in the lead.

Results at the top of  the 3rd category Col du Rouvey (Km 136):

1. Tschopp 4 points

2. Voeckler 2 pts

3. Sicard 1pt

The peloton 1:45 behind.

The two most active teams in stage 3 have seized the reins of the pack again in the ascent of the Col du Rouvey. The peloton is now two minutes adrift.

Warren Barguil (ARG) punctured and is now 20 seconds behind his breakaway companions. 

Astana team leader Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark has given up.

and the bunch trails the seven escapees by exatly three minutes.

Thomas Voeckler (EUC) and Gianni Meersman (OPQ) previously won stages on Paris Nice. The Frenchman won two stages in 2011, in Belleville and Nice, while the Belgian won a stage last year in Rodez.

Rain was forecast for today but the weather on the race is actually rather sunny with a few clouds and a temperature of 14 degrees.

Km 116 - Voeckler, Dupont, Meersman, Sicard, Morkov, Barguil and Tschopp lead the peloton by 3:20.

The average speed in the third hour of the stage was 33.6 kph. The overall average speed was 38.2 kph.

Europcar team director Andy Flickinger told www.letour.fr that Thomas Voeckler was out to avenge his disappointing showing in Brioude: "Thomas is out for revenge after yesterday when he didn't have such a good day. The terrain today was ideal for attacks and for him. We're not there yet as the leaders' team is defending the Yellow Jersey. Thomas's objective is a stage win but we're coming into a section favouring the chase with a long descent and straight lines. We'll se where we are in the...

Km 105.5 - At the top of Cote de Laprat, the peloton trails the seven escapees by 3:40.

Results at the top of  the 3rd category Cote de Laprat (Km 105.5):

1. Tschopp 4 points

2. Barguil 2 pts

3. Dupont 1pt

IAM team director Eddy Seigneur told www.letour.fr that Johan Tschopp had made a great step towards taking the polka-dot jersey, which was not a real objective at the start: "Our plan at the start was to have a man in a break today. Since it was Johann, he went for the polka-dot because he's a good climber. It looks good as far as the polka-dot is concerned but for the stage win, it'll be difficult because Thomas Voeckler is in the break and he is only a minute behind in the GC. For the rest...

Km 100 - The peloton trails the seven escapees by 3:05.

In Le Dauphine Libere, Philippe Court suggests that AG2R's Guillaume Bonnafond could draw inspiration from his team-mate Romain Bardet, who shone on his home turf yesterday. "Guillaume Bonnafond sees himself playing leading roles as the race enters his home roads," he writes. Bonnafond was born in Valence, which is close to the finish town of St Vallier.

Km 85 - The seven lead the escapees by 2:40.

Results at the top of  the 3rd category Cote de La Chomasse (Km 87.5):

1. Tschopp 4 points

2. Barguil 2 pts

3. Meersman 1pt

The average speed in the second hour of the stage was 44.3 kph for an overall average speed of 40.5 kph.

Km 66 - The seven escapees lead the peloton by 3:20.

The peloton is in Craponne-sur-Arzon, which was used as a  last minute start stage in the 2005 Paris-Nice for a stage won in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon by Vicente Reynes.

Km 50 - Led by seven Garmin Sharp riders, the peloton trails the seven escapees by 3:50.

Elia Favilli (LAM) has given up.

Thomas Voeckler (EUS) is the best placed rider in the break. He lies 49th in the GC, 1:32 behind Andrew Talansky.

The chasers just caught the three breakaways. Seven men in the lead: Thomas Voeckler (EUC), Johann Tschopp (IAM), Gianni Meersman (OPQ), Hubert Dupont (ALM), Romain Sicard (EUS), Michael Morkov (TST) and Warren Barguil (ARG).

The peloton was four minutes adrift on the sprint line (km 40.5) while the four chasers were 1:15 behind the break.

Result of the first intermediate sprint in La Chaise-Dieu (km 40.5):
1. Voeckler
2. Tschopp
3.  Meersman

Km 35 - Three men in the lead: Thomas Voeckler (EUC), Gianni Meessman (OPQ) and Johann Tschopp (IAM).
Michael Morkov (TST), Romain Sicard (EUS), Hubert Dupont (ALM) and Warren Barguil (ARG)  are one minute behind.
The peloton 2:35 behind.

The average speed in the first hour of the stage was 36.7 kph.

Km 31.5 - Behind the three escapees - Voeckler, Meersman, Tschopp - are to chasing duets. Hubert Dupont (ALM) and Romain Sicard (EUS) and Michael Morkov (TST) with Warren Barguil (ARG). 

The two chasers are Hubert Dupont (ALM) and Romain Sicard (EUS).

Results at the top of  the 2nd category Cote de Condat (Km 27.5):
1.  Tschopp 7 points
2.  Meersman 5 pts
3.  Voeckler 3 pts
4.  Dupont 2 pts    45 seconds behind
5.  Sicard 1 pt
Peloton 1:05 behind

Km 25 - Meersman, Voeckler and Tschopp lead the peloton by 45 seconds.Two riders are trying to counter.

L'Equipe reminds that Talansky had revealed himself last year in Romandie: "Just a reminder that he lost by only one second behind Bradley Wiggins in the timed climb to Crans-Montana on the Tour de Romandie (2nd). No need to say that Col d'Eze will suit him".
The French sports daily also pays homage to local favorite Romain Bardet, who nearly made it in his home town before finishing 6th: "I got a little carried away. Perhaps the excitement of arriving home. It's a pity, we'd...

Km 19.5 - Tschopp, Meersman and Voeckler lead the peloton by 25 seconds. But the bunch is speeding in the descent.

Results at the top of  the 2nd category Cote de Lachaud (Km 11.5):
1.  Tschopp 7 points
2.  Voeckler  5 pts
3.  Meersman 3 pts
4.  Moreno 2 pts
5.  Rein Taaramae (COF) 1 pt

Javier Moreno (MOV) has been dropped by the leading group. Three men in the lead: Voeckler, Meersman and Tschopp.

David Millar ‏@millarmind
Beautiful morning in Paris-Nice. I can't truly express how happy that makes me.

tom danielson ‏@tomdanielson
Paris-nice = hard. Paris-nice in the rain= really hard. Winning a stage in Paris-nice in the rain= really, really, really hard. @andrewtalansky you are a bad man!

Peter Velits ‏@petervelits
First rainy day here in P-N. Feel like a sponge right now. So far the team is riding well. ‪@chava_sylvain‬ and me in top...

France's Thomas Voeckler (EUC) has joined the three escapees. Four men are in the front, with a 20 seconds lead over the main pack.

A few riders are dropped in the first climb of the day, including green jersey holder Elia Viviani (CAN) and David Millar (GRS).

Km 8 - Three riders attacked: Javier Moreno (MOV), Gianni Meersman (OPQ) and Johan Tschopp (IAM).

Angelo Tulik (EUC) just gave up.

Km 7 - An attempt took place including polka-dot jersey holder Martijn Keizer, but it was reined in.

Dane Michael Morkov (TST) was the first rider on the move today. But he was reeled in straightaway.

The actual start was given to 176 riders.

Km 40.5 : La Chaise-Dieu
Km 157: St Romain-d'Ay

 Km 11.5: Cote de Lachaud (2nd cat.)
Km 27.5: Cote de Condet (2nd cat.)
Km 87.5: Cote de la Chomasse (3rd cat.)
Km 105.5: Cote de Laprat (3rd cat.)
Km 136: Col du Rouvey (3rd cat.)
Km 176.5: Col de Talencieux (2nd cat.)
Km 191: Cote de la Sizeranne (2nd cat.)

Astana earned a just reward for their great teamwork in the finale of stage 3 by seizing the lead of the team classification ahead of AG2R La Mondiale and Omega Pharma Quick Step.

Dutchman Martijn Keizer (VCD) took advantage of yesterday's breakaway to seize the polka dot jersey on 8 points. But the tall Vacansoleil rider is closely followed by some of the GC contenders - Andriy Grivko and David Lopez Garcia -  who should be again in sight on the last climbs of the day. Keizer will need to make the best of the first climbs on the stage menu to retain his garment.

The white jersey classification would make a decent final result to this edition with Andrew Talansky leading compatriot Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) by 16 seconds while gifted Colombian climber Nairo Quintana (MOV) is third, 17 seconds behind.

The points jersey remained on the back of Italy's Elia Viviani (CAN), who lost ground in the first climbs of the Race to the Sun but still holds a solid 12 points lead over Slovenia's Borut Bozic (AST) while France's Sylvain Chavanel is third, 17 points behind the Cannondale sprinter.

Andrew Talansky (GRS) became the fourth Yellow Jersey holder in four days on this edition of Paris-Nice thanks to his swashbuckling victory in Brioude in stage 3. The young American leads two of his breakaways companions in yesterday's finale, Ukraine's Andriy Grivko and Italy's David Malacarne, by three seconds.  Once again, the race lead hangs by a thread and another change of hands is not to be ruled out.

176 riders signed the start list this morning as the peloton is heading towards kilometre 0.

Christophe Le Mevel (COF) crashed as the peloton are leading towards the real start. Nothing serious.

Weclome on th 4th stage of Paris - Nice between Brioude and St Vallier (199.5 kms).