Martin climbs to fourth overall

CYCLING:DAN MARTIN highlighted his climbing ability yesterday with an excellent fourth place on the toughest stage of the Tour of Catalunya.

The Garmin-Cervélo competitor rode strongly on the final climb to the ski resort of Vallnord in Andorra, conceding just 35 seconds to triple Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank).

Contador attacked on the final ascent, beating closest rivals Michele Scarponi (Lampre) and Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) by 23 seconds.

He will find out today if the UCI, cycling’s governing body, intends to appeal the Spanish federation’s decision last month to clear him of doping charges.

Nicolas Roche (Ag2r la Mondiale) and Philip Deignan (RadioShack) were 41st and 78th respectively.

The latter was required to ride for team leader Leipheimer on the stage.

Martin’s performance jumped him from 19th to fourth overall. He’s 35 seconds behind Contador in the overall standings heading into today’s flatter, 198km stage to Vendrell.

Roche and Deignan are 40th and 69th respectively.

Meanwhile, David McCann was 13th on yesterday’s fourth stage of the Tour of Taiwan. He was part of a 40-man group which finished 42 seconds behind Floris Goesinnen (Drapac) into Sun Moon Lake.

The stage was not as decisive as expected and he remains third overall, 19 seconds behind race leader Markus Eibegger (Tabriz Petrochemical).