Tour de France: Alessandro Petacchi wins fourth stage .

Alessandro Petacchi won a thrilling sprint finish to take the fourth stage of the Tour de France but Mark Cavendish's challenge faded away.

Italian Lampre rider Petacchi seized the initiative after Cavendish dropped out of the sprint to claim victory in the 153km stage from Cambrai to Reims.
Fabian Cancellara retained the yellow jersey after crossing in the main pack.
Cavendish's 12th-place finish cast doubt over his chances of winning this year's green jersey.
The 25-year-old HTC-Columbia rider, who won six stages in last year's tour, is now well adrift of green jersey leader Thor Hushovd (Cervelo).
Cavendish had hoped to claim victory and was perfectly positioned to do so in a mass sprint finish, but he pulled up metres from the line as Petacchi stormed on to take the stage just ahead of Julian Dean (Team Garmin-Transitions) and Team Sky's Edvald Hagen Boasson.
This is Petacchi's second stage victory of the tour, following his victory in the first stage into Brussels, in his first Tour since 2005.
Boasson's team-mate Geraint Thomas was amongst the pack, finishing 19th, and as a result retains second place in the overall standings and the young riders' white jersey.
Defending champion Alberto Contador remains in ninth overall after finishing 32nd, with last year's runner-up Andy Schleck sixth overall after crossing in 58th.
Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, who's progress was hampered in stage three by a flat tyre which cost him significant time and saw him plummet from fifth in the general standings to 18th, crossed 36th in Reims. 

More to follow:

Stage four results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita/LAM) 3 hours, 34 minutes, 55 seconds.
2. Julian Dean (NZ/GRM) same time.
3. Edvald Hagen Boasson (Nor/SKY) same time.
4. Robbie McEwen (Aus/KAT) same time.
5. Robert Hunter (SA/GRM) same time. 

Overall standings:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi/SAX) 14hr 54min 0sec
2. Geraint Thomas (GB/SKY) at 23"
3. Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) at 39"
4. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/GRM) at 46"
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra/QST) at 1'01"
6. Andy Schleck (Lux/SAX) at 1'09"
7. Thor Hushovd (Nor/CTT) at 1'19"
8. Alexandre Vinoukourov (Kaz/AST) at 1'31"
9. Alberto Contador (Spa/AST) at 1'40"
10. Johan van den Broeck (Bel/OPL) at 1'42"
For full results visit the official Tour de France site