McEwen wins another stage; Boonen maintains overall lead

SAINT-QUENTIN, France -- Tom Boonen kept his overall lead at the Tour de France on Wednesday -- wearing the yellow jersey as he entered his native Belgium -- but was upset with his showing on a day when Australia's Robbie McEwen won a stage for the second time in this race.

Boonen, the world champion, faded in the final sprint of the 129-mile fourth stage and dropped back to fifth place. He slammed his right hand on his handlebars in apparent anger as he crossed the line.

The top of the overall standings remained unchanged. Boonen is one second ahead of world time trial champion Michael Rogers of Australia, with George Hincapie of the United States third.

McEwen overpowered his rivals and dedicated his 10th stage victory in nine Tours to American teammate Fred Rodriguez, who rode into a pothole and crashed out of the race in an accident-strewn stage Tuesday.

The next two stages take the three-week race across northern France, through Normandy toward Brittany. They also are relatively flat and should again favor sprinters.