ADELAIDE: Frenchman Bryan Coquard pipped German Phil Bauhaus in an exciting finish of the fourth stage Friday as Javier Romo held on to the race leader`s jersey in the Tour Down Under.

Coquard (Cofidis) pounced after turning in sixth on the final bend to hit the front and just hold off Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) in a photo finish, with Ecuador`s Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) third.

Spain`s Romo (Movistar Team) retained the ochre leader`s jersey but his overall advantage was cut to four seconds over Narvaez heading into Saturday`s defining fifth stage, featuring two climbs up the makeor-break Willunga Hill.

It was Coquard`s second stage win at the Tour Down Under having won the fourthstagein2023.

Coquard used his vast race experience to seize victory in Victor Harbour after a hard day`s racing in the 157.2km stage -the longest of this year`s tour.

`I knew it was my best chance to win here, and yes it is a perfeet day,` Coquard said amid his celebrating Cofidis teammates.

Romo, who grabbed the race lead with a win in Thursday`s third stage, finished in the bunch to proteethis overalllead.

Narvaez threw his arms in the air in protest at being squeezed for space in the frenetic jostling to the finish, but gained more bonus seconds to inch him closer to the race lead.

It was a torrid stage for Jay Vine, who was part of an early crash but resumed with a bloodied right calf and his shorts shredded to stay in overall contention in eighth place, 15 seconds behind Romo.-AFP