Vicioso wins for Saiz

"I'm very happy to have won the stage and I dedicate it to Manolo Saiz," Vicioso told reporters.

"Everybody in our team is going through a difficult moment but this win is a boost to our morale and shows we're determined to stay focused and do well."

On a day the Tour de France sent out a strong message on doping by excluding the Comunidad Valenciana team, Vicioso's victory was particularly sweet for the Astana-Würth team, still reeling from the doping scandal that led to the resignation of Saiz.

In the finale Vicioso sprinted away from compatriot David Herrero to take victory in the race's fourth stage.

Yellow jersey wearer Nick Nuyens maintained his lead in the general classification as he finished in the first big group that arrived just after Vicioso and Herrero.

The peloton pushed along at a punishing speed for almost the entirety of the stage, as attacks became frequent but short-lived. In the end, it was the final break-away that counted.

Vicioso together with Herrero, moved clear of a leading group of around 70 riders on a small uphill section with just six kilometres remaining. Although they soon built up a lead of 20 seconds, the high tempo of the peloton prevented them from increasing the margin of their advantage.

With four kilometres remaining, the gap was at 15 seconds, and although the Lampre and Rabobank teams had received orders to close the gap from their sprinters Daniele Bennati and Oscar Freire, the breakaway riders led until the finish.

Bennati won the sprint for third, with Freire in fourth. Jan Ullrich finished just seconds behind, in the first group.

Wednesday sees the tour move into the hills for the first time, as Stage 5 ends with a first category climb up to Leukerbad.