Contador lays down marker with lung-busting victory in Paris-Nice

ALBERTO Contador has given a glimpse of what to expect at the 2010 Tour de France with a lung-busting finish to the Paris-Nice to take the yellow jersey in the Race to the Sun.

OMINOUS FORM: Alberto Contador laid down a marker for the rest of the season with a crushing stage victory in the Paris-Nice (Getty Images)

The 27-year-old two-time Tour de France winner was fourth in the overall classification overnight at 20 seconds behind German leader Jens Voigt but Contador burst clear in the gruelling climb to Mende, 173.5km after setting off from Maurs.

Astana's Contador has been ominously quiet in the Paris-Nice so far but he turned the screw on stage four as he bids to recapture the title he won in 2007.

Voight crossed the line a full 54 seconds behind Contador and is currently sixth while it is fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde who leads the chase in second at 24 seconds.

Liquigas' Roman Kreuziger is still third, a further second off the pace, but it is Contador who bounced his way up the gruelling climb to the finish as only he can do, to move into pole position.

Great Britain's David Millar is currently ninth at 1:03 minutes but Team Sky continue to go through the motions after Greg Henderson's opening stage victory.