Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) took a highly deserved victory atop Mount Etna on stage 4 of the Giro.
Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) rolled across the line in second spot, while Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) outsprinted Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) at the line to finish third.
Polanc, whose only other Giro win was a mountain stage in 2015, was part of a leading quartet that broke away early on and he gradually outmuscled his rivals.
The chasing riders later ate into his shrinking lead, which was below two minutes with less than 7 kilometers to run, but he held on for victory.
Bob Jungels (QuickStep Floors) took over as overall race leader, six seconds ahead of Thomas. Orica’s Adam Yates is third. Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali is fourth.
“I am elated and so happy” said the 25-year old UAE Team Emirates’ rider. “Today’s stage was very demanding and the climb was challenging, especially after having been in the front of the peloton for most of the stage. Towards the end I was exhausted however was determined to give it everything I had. I would like to thank the team, management and sponsors for their unwavering support. I underwent altitude training on Mount Etna back in March and April and it feels nice to be back here with a victory. I will proudly wear the Maglia Azzura and hope I can retain it for the remainder of the Giro. After 2015, to repeat the victory on the first mountain stage, it’s incredible for me – I’m really happy.”
INCREDIBLE!
What an effort from @TeamUAEAbuDhabi rider Jan Polanc to win stage four ? #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/ZOBOmkeLrx
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) 9 mai 2017
Giro d’Italia 2017 – stage 4 results (Cefalù – Etna):
| 1 | Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) | 4:55:58 |
| 2 | Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) | +19” |
| 3 | Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) | +29” |
| 4 | Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) | ,, |
| 5 | Dario Cataldo (Astana) | ,, |
| 6 | Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) | ,, |
| 7 | Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) | ,, |
| 8 | Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) | ,, |
| 9 | Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) | ,, |
| 10 | Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) | ,, |
| 11 | Nairo Quintana (Movistar) | ,, |
| 12 | Simone Petilli (UAE Team Emirates) | ,, |
| 13 | Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R) | ,, |
| 14 | Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac) | ,, |
| 15 | Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) | ,, |
| 16 | Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) | ,, |
| 17 | Michael Woods (Cannondale-Drapac) | ,, |
| 18 | Mikel Landa (Team Sky) | ,, |
| 19 | Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Drapac) | ,, |
| 20 | Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNl-Jumbo) | ,, |
General classification after stage 4:
| 1 | Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) | 19:41:56 |
| 2 | Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) | +06” |
| 3 | Adam Yates (Orica-Scott) | +10” |
| 4 | Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) | ,, |
| 5 | Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R) | ,, |
| 6 | Nairo Quintana (Movistar) | ,, |
| 7 | Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) | ,, |
| 8 | Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) | ,, |
| 9 | Mikel Landa (Team Sky) | ,, |
| 10 | Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) | ,, |
| 11 | Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) | ,, |
| 12 | Andrey Amador (Movistar) | ,, |
| 13 | Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Drapac) | ,, |
| 14 | Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) | +14” |
| 15 | Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNl-Jumbo) | +23” |
| 16 | Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) | ,, |
| 17 | Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) | +46” |
| 18 | Tanel Kangert (Astana) | +54” |
| 19 | Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) | +58” |
| 20 | Simone Petilli (UAE Team Emirates) | +01’14” |
