Tejay van Garderen takes stage four at Volta Ciclista

The American attacked in the final kilometres and kept the fast-finishing Richie Porte behind to triumph by three seconds.

Alberto Contador finished eight seconds off the pace in third, with Dan Martin and Wilco Kelderman posting the same time.

Van Garderern's win helped make up for his disappointment on Wednesday, when a nasty crash robbed him of any hope of claiming overall victory.

"I have an up and down relationship with this race. It was an unfortunate event yesterday with the crash. Luckily I came away with minimal damage," van Garderen said.

"I was really motivated for today, I changed the tactic from trying to go for the classification and put everything into the stage. That was all I had in my mind today."

Bart De Clercq, part of the successful three-man breakaway on stage one, went into the overall lead. Porte is 21 seconds back in second.

1. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 5:00:36

2. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky +3"

3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo +8"

4. Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team "

5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo "

6. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing Team +11"

7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale +15"

8. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team +19"

9. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky +21"

10. Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lampre-Merida "

1. Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Soudal 18:32:02

2. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky +21"

3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale +26"

4. Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team +27"

5. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo +28"

6. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step +45"

7. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team +48"

8. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo +51"

9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team +52"

10. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing Team +54"