Bettini wins stage, Leipheimer still leads

Paolo Bettini, the Italian world road champion racing for the first time in the United States, won the fourth stage of the Tour of California on Thursday, but Levi Leipheimer maintained the overall lead.

Bettini, riding for Quick-Step/Innergetic, surged in the final 100 yards to complete the 132.6-mile stage in 5 hours 5 minutes 47 seconds.

Germany’s Gerald Coilek, racing for T-Mobile, was second, Argentine Juan Jose Haedo, the winner of the second stage, finished third, both in the same time as the winner.

Leipheimer, the American star riding for the Discovery Channel, finished 22nd in the main pack and kept his three-second margin over CSC rider Jens Voight of Germany.

Australia’s Rory Sutherland is third overall, 15 seconds behind.

The riders faced heavy periodic rain for much of the first half of the stage.

The cyclists also rode most of the day along the Pacific coastline in tailing crosswinds that increased the riders’ pace. The winner’s average speed was 26.01 mph.

“I was just trying to stay near the front and avoid gaps that might happen,” Leipheimer said. “I feel very confident and I think I’m the strongest rider in the race.”

The eight-day, 639.2-mile race continues today with the 14.5-mile fifth stage individual time trial in Solvang.

The race will conclude Sunday in Long Beach with the seventh stage circuit race.