Farrar wins Tour of California 4th stage

SANTA BARBARA, California (AFP) –

Tyler Farrar of the US, riding for Garmin-Sharp, celebrates a first place finish to end Stage 4 of the Tour of California, on May 15, 2013, in Santa Barbara, United States. Farrar was a clear winner over US criterium champion Ken Hanson of Optum, with Belgian Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma) third in the 134 km stage.

Tyler Farrar sprinted to victory in the fourth stage of the Tour of California, giving Garmin a transatlantic double after their same-day Tour of Italy stage win.

America’s Farrar was on Wednesday a clear winner over US criterium champion Ken Hanson of Optum, with Belgian Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma) third in the 134 kilometer stage, which brought the riders from Santa Clarita in suburban Los Angeles west to the seaside town of Santa Barbara.

Colombian Janier Acevedo (Jamis) finished in the main pack to retain the leader’s yellow jersey, which he claimed with his victory in the second stage on Monday at Palm Springs.

Acevedo maintained a 12-second lead over American Tejay van Garderen of BMC, who also finished in the main pack.

Earlier Wednesday, Garmin’s Ramaunas Navardauskas of Lithuania won the 11th stage of the Tour of Italy.

“Waking up to the news that Ramaunas had won the stage in the Giro was a big morale boost to the team, and it was cool we were able to double up today,” Farrar said.

Thursday’s fifth leg of America’s most prestigious stage race takes the riders 185.7km from Santa Barbara to Avila Beach. The race concludes on Sunday in Santa Rosa.