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Fabian Cancellara secures overall lead

The pack rides during the fourth stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race between Saint Peray and Montelimar, France, Thursday. Switzerland's Cancellara won the stage. PHOTO: AP

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won Thursday's fourth leg of the Paris-Nice cycling race to take the overall lead.

Cancellara, of the Fassa Bortolo team, completed the 108km stretch between Saint-Peray and Montelimar in southern France in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 3 seconds.

Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu was awarded the same time in finishing second, while Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain finished third, 2 seconds behind.

Cancellara, winner of last year's Tour de France prologue, led the overall standings after Thursday's win with 10:09:50. He was :15 ahead of second-placed Flecha, with Bobby Julich of the US third, :20 off the lead.

Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong pulled out of the race after Wednesday's third leg, citing a sore throat. Armstrong finished 99th on the stage and was 62nd overall.

"Lance woke up this morning with a sore throat and with the cold weather, he began to feel worse throughout the day," Discovery Channel team manager Johan Bruyneel said in a statement on the team's Web site.

Armstrong, who was using the event as a warm-up for his bid to win a seventh straight Tour de France title this summer, was returning to his home in Girona, Spain, for treatment.

World champion Oscar Freire won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race and grabbed the overall lead on Thursday.

Freire, of team Rabobank, rallied in the last 100m to catch Spanish compatriot Angel Arcos Vicioso near the finish in Tivoli. France's Laurent Brochard was third.

"I knew I could win this stage with a tough finish but I made no plans at the start ... all I need is to prepare well for the upcoming classics," said Freire, who took 4 hours, 45 minutes, 36 seconds.

The final uphill section of the 181km stage from Civitavecchia to Tivoli prevented a mass sprint, and cyclists crossed the finish line in single file.

Belgium's Stijn Devolder was fourth, Italy's Leonardo Bertagnolli fifth, and Australian Stuart O'Grady sixth, all in the same time as the winner.

Italy's top sprinter, Alessandro Petacchi, winner of Wednesday's opening leg, finished 29th to relinquish the yellow and red race leader's jersey.

Freire, fourth on Wednesday, capitalized on a time bonus for Thursday's win and better placings to clinch the overall lead.

Organizers announced that the course for Friday's third stage, from Tivoli to Torricella Sicura, was modified because snow forced the closure of two mountain passes.

Lance Armstrong's decision to drop out of the Paris-Nice race won't hamper his attempt for a seventh straight Tour de France victory, his team manager said Thursday.

Armstrong pulled out after Wednesday's third stage of the French classic, citing a sore throat.

While Armstrong will modify his training program, preparations for the Tour de France remain on course, Discovery Channel team sporting director Johan Bruyneel said.

"I don't think it's a problem," Bruyneel said on the team's Web site. "Of all the so-called rivals for a Tour victory, most have not even started competing.

"I'm thinking of [Jan] Ullrich, [Ivan] Basso, [Roberto] Heras, and [Iban] Mayo. There's no cause to doubt."

Armstrong was using the Paris-Nice race as a warm-up for the Tour de France, which starts July 2.

He is scheduled to race the Tour of Flanders on April 3 and defend his Tour of Georgia title later that month, before competing in the Dauphine Libere race on June 5.
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