Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 2007

Columbia, Mo. — Ivan Dominguez of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team narrowly avoided a potential disaster and still managed a third-place finish in the closing meters of Stage 4’s 133-mile (214 km) road race from Lebanon, Mo., to Columbia Friday afternoon.

Within sight of the finish, Dominguez brushed against a spectator, momentarily sapping his momentum while forcing him to demonstrate his bike-handling skills. Undeterred, the Cuban sprint sensation roared back to nearly catch stage winner Luciano Pagliarini (Prodir-Saunier Duval) and runner-up Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics Cycling Team).

“Coming to the end I was behind (teammate Chris) Wherry,” Dominguez said. “In the last kilometer, he got me in good position and he asked me where I wanted him to jump. I told him to go when he saw the 600-meters-to-go sign and he jumped and I was on his wheel. The field spread across the road and my only option was to take the right side. I was coming fast from 20th place and I think I hit one of the spectators and lost my momentum. When I got to the guys out front it was too late.”

Dominguez’s third-place finish did earn him enough points to tie Pagliarini for the Edward Jones sprint points jersey.

Earlier in the stage, Toyota-United’s Justin England was part of a 10-man breakaway that formed 49 miles (79 km) into the stage. The group remained in the lead until being caught on the fast run-in into Columbia.

“After the time gap got up to three or four minutes, it was my job to sit on because I knew they would be chasing from behind to set up Ivan,” England said.