LONDON – Dutch cyclist Wouter Poels won the fourth stage of the Tour of Britain, a 171.3 km ride from Minehead to Teignmouth, but Switzerland’s Michael Albasini retained the overall lead on Tuesday.

Poels finished just ahead of fellow Vacansoleil rider Borut Bozic but they could not help another team-mate, Johnny Hoogerland, snatch the yellow jersey.

Hoogerland had attacked early along with Daniel Martin and Team Sky’s Matthew Hayman, but they could not make it last.

Albasini leads Australia’s Richie Porte by a minute and 28 seconds, with Bozic a further four seconds and Hoogerland an additional 10 behind.

The race finishes in London on Saturday.

Stage 4 Results:
1. Wout Poels (NED), Vacansoleil 4hrs 30mins 35secs, 2. Borut Bozic (SLO), Vacansoleil at 0.05secs, 3. Koen De Kort (NED) Skil-Shimano at same time, 4.
Jack Bauer (NZL) Endura Racing at same time, 5. Patrick Sinkewitz (GER) ISD-Neri Giambenini at same time.

Overall standings
1. Michael Albasini (SUI) HTC-Columbia 15hrs 27mins 41secs, 2. Richie Porte
(AUS) Saxo Bank at 1:28, 3. Borut Bozic (SLO) Vacansoleil at 1:32, 4. Greg Henderson (NZL) Sky at 1:36, 5. Johnny Hoogerland (NED) Vacansoleil at 1:42