Cycling: Fastest stage in Tour history

Mario Cipollini made up for a poor start to the Tour de France cycle race when he won the fastest-ever regular stage in the race's history yesterday.

Italian Cipollini, who has won at least one stage in every Tour de France he has entered since 1993, made it nine in total when he won the 194.5km fourth stage from Laval to Blois at an average speed of 50.355 km/h.

The previous fastest regular stage was won by Belgian Johan Bruyneel in 1993 in Amiens at 49.417 km/h.

Only in individual time-trials had the 50 km/h barrier been broken before.

Cipollini's Saeco team-mates led the sprint finish from the last kilometre and "Super Mario" made his move with 250m left, beating German Erik Zabel and Australian Stuart O'Grady.

Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu, who finished fifth, retained the overall leader's yellow jersey with a 16s lead over O'Grady.

"I think it was just a perfect sprint," Cipollini said. "Our Saeco team worked perfectly in the end, they led a perfect sprint for me.

"When I saw the 250m sign I told myself it was time to give it all I had. I was strong enough to resist Zabel's move. I'm happy."

The 32-year-old Italian had been very disappointing in the first three sprints of this year's race, only once finishing on the podium.

The win made up for all that for "Cipo," who usually returns home before the Tour reaches the mountains.

"I was all geared up after missing my chance three times," he said. "And to win the fastest stage ever is a great achievement, even though the wind helped us a lot."

Zabel, points standings winner for the past two years, had reason to be disappointed as he has now finished third, fourth and twice second in this year's four mass finishes.

Belgian Tom Steels, winner of the two preceding stages, had to be content with finishing fourth this time, missing a fine opportunity to take the overall lead from Kirsipuu.

The stage was marked by a breakaway at 130km by underdogs Anthony Morin, of France and Gianpaolo Mondini, of Italy, who were caught 10km from the finish.

Today's 233.5km fifth stage to Amiens will be another fine opportunity for sprinters to shine.