George Hincapie avoided what could have been a horrendous crash through instinctive behaviour that comes with hours spent on a bicycle riding fast in crowds. About 25 miles from the finish, one of the riders in the middle of the peleton came to ground inches in front of Hincapie. With a split second decision, Hincapie had avoided the sprawled rider and bicycle and continued cycling. Other cyclists were not so lucky and the main pack was split which a number of other riders falling to the ground.
The breakaway group of riders made it all the way to Modesto before they were eventually reeled in by the peloton. It was expected to be a sprinters' finish with the man to beat, Mark Cavendish, being led home by the Team HTC-Columbia team. Other teams attacked the front and disrupted HTC-Columbia's game plan and Cavendish was left without much support and too much to do to retain the lead to the line. Francesco Chicchi of Team Liquigas-Doimo pipped Jose Haedo Juan of Team Saxo Bank at the line. Hincapie finished a respectable 11th place and given the same time as the leaders. He looked a lot stronger today and seems to have finally shaken off the effects of his fall on the opening day. He still sits 3:08 minutes behind the leader, David Zabriskie, in 27th position.
Stage 5 starts in Visalia and after 121 miles, finishes in Bakersfield. Check in tomorrow to see if Hincapie wins his first stage of the tour.
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