Astana's Andreas Kloeden distanced one of his main rivals for the Tour de Romandie title Saturday after a hilly fourth stage won by Italian Francesco De Bonis of Gerolsteiner.

De Bonis claimed the fourth and penultimate stage of the Swiss stage race, finishing ahead of French climber John Gadret and Spaniard Manuel Beltran.

But it was Dutchman Thomas Dekker's failure to keep in touch with Kloeden on what proved a difficult day of climbing that provided the biggest drama.

Rabobank's defending champion began the day only six seconds down on Kloeden after the German beat him to victory in the race's time trial on Friday.

Kloeden promptly lay down his victory credentials on the day's final climbs where he played a pivotal role controlling the group of chasing riders.

Dekker, winner of the last edition, retired 25km from the finish on the climb to Grimentz, his body langugage suggesting he had simply run out of gas.

De Bonis said after his stage win: "The breakaway went too early. When I found myself alone I began to fell tired. I was scared when I saw Gadret coming back at me 100m from the line. It was only 50m out that I thought I'd done it."

Kloeden now leads Liquigas rider Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic and Italian Marco Pinotti, of High Road, by 35 and 43 secs respectively ahead of Sunday's final stage.

Rabobank's best placed rider is former Tour of Spain winner Denis Menchov, who is fourth at 45.

Sunday's final stage is a 154.2km ride between Le Bouveret and Lausanne.

AFP