KEY POINTS:
New Zealand rider Julian Dean shot to prominence in the Tour de France yesterday, leading his Credit Agricole team-mate Thor Hushovd to victory in the fourth stage of the world famous cycling race.
Norway's Hushovd clinched the 193km stage from Villers-Cotterets to Joigny for his first victory of
the year, then heaped praise on the New Zealander as a global audience focused on a breathtaking finish.
"Julian did a terrific job. I had complete confidence in him," Hushovd said as he gasped for air.
"When you saw what he did, setting off 450m out, you could say that he is the best in the world for setting up a sprint."
Hushovd said the pace was fast but he trusted Dean and just stayed behind him.
"I fought to stay with him and when he launched the sprint 450 metres from the line, I knew I could win.
"It was a team job for this sprint with Sebastien Hinault and William Bonnet the first to pull me."
Rotorua-born Dean, 32, said: "I feel better and better as the race goes on. It was fantastic for us today because things weren't working as we had hoped for over the last couple of days.
"Victory today is good for the morale of the team because it's only the first week."
Hushovd searched Dean out in the midst of a media scrum just after the finish and said: "Thank you very much! You were fantastic."
Hushovd, who won the green jersey for top sprinter in 2005, edged South African Robert Hunter to the line.
The pair emerged in front of a pack from seemingly nowhere with about 500m to go, with Dean leading the Norwegian as the pace picked up for the finish.
Dean led before allowing his teammate to move ahead and finish just millimetres ahead of Hunter. "I'm relieved to win," Hushovd said. Hushovd received a confidence boost after finishing second on the opening day's sprint in Canterbury but was involved in Monday's crash in Ghent.
"I was really mad because I had lost 30 points to [Robbie] McEwen," he said.
"But I am not pessimistic so I knew I would have some luck at some point. Julian made it for me today."
Hushovd is fifth in the sprinters' standings with 79 points, 19 behind leader Tom Boonen.
Hushovd's result meant he has leapfrogged German Andreas Kloeden for second place overall thanks to time bonuses.
Swiss Fabian Cancellara, who finished safe in the main pack, retained the leader's yellow jersey.
The fifth stage takes the pack over 182.5km from Chablis to Autun.
- NZPA