Quotes from Wiggins & Thomas after stage 4

RESULTS

1. Cadel Evans – BMC Racing    (4h 11min 39secs)

2. Alberto Contador – Saxo Bank-Sungard    (s.t.)

3. Alexandre Vinokourov - Astana    (s.t.)

4. Rigoberto Uran – Team Sky       (s.t.)

11. Bradley Wiggins – Team Sky      (+6)

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) powered to victory on the Mur-de-Bretagne edging out Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) by the narrowest of margins on the line. Thor Hushovd still holds on to yellow by a single second while Bradley Wiggins moved up to sixth overall in the standings for Team Sky and Geraint Thomas retains the young rider’s white jersey.

Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky Rider:

"It's probably not much of a climb if you do it in training but the way the stage was, with the wet, the wind and a nervy peloton, that was pretty tough at the end of 170k.

"I just conceded a few seconds at the top there but gained a lot on other people and at the end of three weeks it's not going to mean much. It was a tricky finish and it's a question of making sure you stay out of trouble again, staying upright and getting it all out so I'm pretty happy.

"It's still early days yet and these stages are all about not giving anything away but the real stuff is still to come."

Geraint Thomas, Team Sky Rider:

"We started the climb at the front, with Brad in a good position, and then it's all about giving everything to the top and getting up it as quick as you can.

"Those last 500 metres were hurting a bit but I just had to hold the wheel in front of me and all in all I think it's another decent day for the team.

"There was a lot of stress in the bunch earlier on and it was a long, hard day especially with the weather playing its part too. But I feel pretty good and have just been getting stuck in every day; when you've got a jersey like this you have to dig in and give it everything - and I'm enjoying it."

Sean Yates, Team Sky Sports Director:

"It was an exciting finish and it’s good we’ve still got the three guys in the top 10 on the GC. Everything is very much on track and we’re in the right place but it’s a long waiting game in many ways, especially for Brad.

"We knew it was going to be hard on that final climb today and so it proved. Those sort of finishes don’t particularly suit Brad but he only lost six seconds to the front group so it was a great result and the team worked well.

"The plan was to make sure Brad was in the right place at the bottom of the climb and then it was always going to be a bit of a free-for-all after that. So it proved and plenty of guys attacked on that final climb - and Rigo was one of those who was able to fire which was good to see."