SAN JOSE (California), May 19: American Chris Horner captured stage four with a dynamic uphill ride to seize the overall lead on Wednesday at the Tour of California.

The 39-year-old RadioShack team rider finished 10th in the Tour de France as the top American in 2010. He took the yellow jersey on Wednesday by finishing the 132 kilometre (82 mile) Livermore-to-San Jose stage in three hours, 27 minutes and 51 seconds.

Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, of Leopard-Trek, finished runner-up one minute and 15 seconds adrift of Horner. Schleck placed second at the 2009 and 2010 Tour de France.

Third was Aussie Rory Sutherland, of United Healthcare.

Horner now leads the eight-day event by 1:15 over American team-mate Levi Leipheimer. At last year’s Tour of California, Horner placed fourth.

American Tom Danielson, of Garmin-Cervelo, is third overall, 1:22 behind.

Schleck sought the stage victory to honour the memory of his former Belgian team-mate Wouter Weylandt, who crashed and died nine days ago on the Giro d’Italia and whose funeral took place Wednesday in Belgium.

“That would have been great to win for Wouter but I am content with this second place,” Schleck said.

The fifth of the eight stages is set for Thursday’s 217 kilometre (134 mile) ride between Seaside and Paso Robles. The race will finish on Sunday.—AFP