An estimated crowd of nearly 20,00 watched as Toyota-United controlled the 60-minute race, helping Stevic win three time bonus sprints (amounting to 15 seconds) as well as a 10-second time bonus for second place on the stage. Kirk O’Bee (Health Net presented by Maxxis) scored his second stage win of the race while Toyota-United’s Henk Vogels finished third.

O’Bee had the stage win foremost on his mind, foregoing any bonuses  or earlier attacks to save energy for the end. "I was just waiting for  the sprint," O’Bee said. “Stevic got a lot of the time bonuses but I  really wasn’t too worried about it. I knew if I could stay on until the finish, I could out-kick, and it was great."

"The guys were doing perfect lead-outs for me all night," Stevic said. "They did everything as we planned, except for me getting second. I had hoped to win. Unfortunately, in the final sprint, I didn’t see O’Bee coming around at all. But we’re happy with second and third on the stage. It shows Toyota-United is the strongest team at the race."

"We kept the peloton in check," said Vogels. "Unfortunately, we  just got nicked in the finish."

Several teams saw the stage as a chance to make gains on Health Net/Maxxis, Priority Health, and Toyota-United, the teams leading the General Classification or overall standings. Jelly Belly, Jittery  Joe’s and Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light all took stabs at breakaways in the first dozen circuits.

Several laps later, Mike Jones (Jelly Belly), Tim Johnson (Health Net/Maxxis), Jackson Stewart (BMC Pro Cycling Team), and Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) built a 12 second gap from the pack. Within two laps they were joined by Phil Zajicek (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team), but all were soon reeled in–largely through Toyota-United’s efforts–during a bonus sprint lap.

The race’s most significant break held for ten laps, with Michael Sayers (BMC) Frank Pipp (Health Net/Maxxis), and James Meadly (Jelly Belly) setting the pace with a lead that grew to 13 seconds at one point. With four laps remaining in the race, however, Toyota-United and   Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast massed at the front of the peloton, and within one lap they were able to reabsorb the break. The average speed for the race was 36.9 mph.

"United did a pretty good job leading it out," said O’Bee.  "I  just sat behind their train and my teammates set me up perfectly.  We kept it safe through the turns and I knew with a lap to go it was mine."

Stevic’s overall lead over O’Bee stands at 19 seconds with two stages remaining: Saturday’s 86.8-mile (139.7 km) Mankato Road Race and an hour-long criterium in Stillwater, Minn. Sunday. Nathan O’Neill (Health Net) and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell) are tied for third, 31 seconds behind Stevic. Toyota-United’s Chris Baldwin is fifth, 40 seconds off the lead.

“From the first moment I came back to the bus after the race, I saw the guys were so happy,” Stevic said. “This night was all about winning those bonus sprints and keeping the pressure on. They definitely want to win this race and it really gives me so much positive energy.”

Saturday’s road race includes four point bonus sprints (a classification Stevic leads) but only time bonuses on the finish line for the first three finishers. The 118 riders remaining in the race will complete four laps of a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) finishing circuit in Mankato that Stevic calls "challenging."

"They’re short, but steep climbs, so the finish is pretty hard," Stevic said. "Before that, it will pretty much be rolling hills and we’ll have to contend with the wind like we did on the other road stage. So it’s going to be hard to control the race."

Results

Stage 4

1 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis                                             1.00.37
2 Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team                                       
3 Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team                                       
4 David McCook (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast                                   
5 Juan Pablo Forero Carreno (Col) Colombian National Team                                  
6 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis                                              
7 Carlos Alzate (Col) Colombian National Team                                              
8 Evan Elken (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team                                      
9 Michael Cody (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                                              
10 Jeff Hopkins (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team

General Classification after stage 4

1 Ivan Stevic (SCG) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team                                 4.30.30
2 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis                                                0.19
3 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis                                            0.31
4 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team p/b Bissell                        
5 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team                            0.40
6 John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis                                               0.45
7 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                                  0.48
8 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis                                           0.50
9 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team p/b Bissell                               
10 Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                                  0.53