It did not take an expert eye to see something was off with Fernando Gaviria's sprinting style at the finish of stage five of the Giro d'Italia.

While his fellow fast men pushed through their biggest gear, the UAE-Team Emirates sprinter was pedalling noticeably faster on the run in to Messina, which didn't mean he was going any quicker, sadly for him.

The immediate assumption was that something was up with his gearing, with it being unlikely that the Colombian would choose to have to make so many revolutions on a flat bunch sprint; it was later revealed to be his derailleur that was the issue.

Gaviria was clearly frustrated at the finish, banging his front wheel up and down as he crossed the line in second. He had done the hard bit, getting over the day's categorised climb without being distanced, unlike Mark Cavendish and Caleb Ewan.

His positioning was good, he had the time to come around Arnaud Démare, he had a great opportunity to end the Grand Tour stage drought that dates back to the 2019 Giro... and yet he could just not manage it.

Immediately after the stage, Gaviria would not be drawn on what caused his anger as he crossed the line, saying instead "it's something I can't say in the interview". Perhaps he did not want to risk angering a sponsor, particularly in the final year of his contract.

However, once back to the UAE team bus, he revealed it was a problem with his derailleur which meant he was stuck in the wrong gear for the sprint, ruining his chances.

"I felt really good today and I was looked after so well for the whole stage," the Colombian said. "I had problems with my derailleur in the end and I couldn’t get in the gear I needed. It was a hectic final and I think someones wheel may have touched me from behind. It’s really frustrating and I could not hide it on the line but these are things that can happen in races.

"Did it cost me the victory? I don’t know, because Démare was also very strong today. The main thing is the legs are good and we’re really motivated and focussed for another chance tomorrow."

As one of the pure sprinters in the bunch, Gaviria impressed by hanging onto the peloton as it was put under pressure on the categorised climb of the Portella Mandrazzi. An opportunity to take part in a pure bunch sprint with some of the favourites missing does not come along too often, so his annoyance can be understood.

"We tried, and I was really disappointed because I had good legs," he said. "After the climb I felt really good then I’m happy with that. We’ll see what happens tomorrow and try again.

"We lost [leadout man Max] Richeze.. then it was impossible to come back. We feel really good and strong together again. We are really happy again."

Better fortune is needed for Gaviria to succeed once again on the biggest stage, but with the right gear, he might just manage it.

Fernando Gaviria made his comeback from a winless season so far, sprinting to victory on stage three of the Tour of Poland 2021. 

The Colombian star was anonymous in the bunch until the final 100m of the stage into Rzeszów, when he found a gap in the middle of the bunch and powered through to secure the victory ahead of Jumbo-Visma’s Olav Jooij. 

João Almeida (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) finished safely in the bunch to hold onto the race lead with four stages remaining.  

How it happened 

Stage three of the Tour of Poland 2021 was another brutally long 226km course, running from Sanok to Rzeszów.

This time the climbing was stacked in the first half of the route, with countless uncategorised ramps and three categorised ascents, all in the opening 100km.

Then into the second half of the stage, there were two bigger climbs, followed by a lumpy final third that led into a pan-flat dash to the line, the first chance for the pure sprinters so far. 

As the flag dropped, a sizeable breakaway began to form and after 20km the leading group was well established, with 10 riders making the cut, including Simon Clarke (Qhubeka-NextHash), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux). 

That group pulled out almost four minutes on the bunch in the opening 100km, with Deceuninck - Quick-Step the main team pulling in the peloton. 

Into the final 50km the break had been reeled back to around two minutes and it was a tense chase into the final few kilometres, as the escapees were swept up by the bunch with just 3km to go.  

Into the final straight it was Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) who led the bunch for his sprinter Phil Bauhaus, who then tried to latch onto the wheel of the surging Jumbo-Visma train, eventually losing position and getting blocked on the inside. 

As Jumbo’s Olav Kooij launched his sprint 100m from the line the bunch opened up in the middle, with Fernando Gaviria powering into the gap and ploughing past to take the victory, his first of the year. 

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Kooij was knocked into second while Bauhaus held on to take third. 

Almeida holds the leader’s jersey with a four-second advantage to Gaviria’s team-mate Diego Ulissi. 

Tour of Poland 2021, stage three: Sanok to Rzeszów (226.4km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, in 5-18-15
2. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
3. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
4. Max Kanter (Ger) Team DSM
5. Max Walscheid (Ger) Qhubeka-NextHash
6. Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix
7. Hugo Hofestetter (Fra) Israel Start-Up Nation
8. Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
9. Michał Kwiatkowski (Pol) Ineos Grenadiers
10. John Degenkolb (Ger) Lotto-Soudal, all at same time 

General classification after stage three

1. João Almeida (Por) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, in 9-42-47
2. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain Victorious, at 4s
3. Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at same time
4. Michał Kwiatkowski (Pol) Ineos Grenadiers, at 11s
5. Mikkel Honoré (Den) Deceuninck - Quick-Step, at 18s
6. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain Victorious, at 22s
7. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert-Matériaux
8. Jai Hindley (Aus) Team DSM)
9. Giovanni Aleotti (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, all at same time
10. Einer Auguso Rubio (Col) Movistar, at 26s 

Fernando Gaviria sprinted to the line on stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia 2021 without a saddle and still managed to achieve fifth on the day behind stage winner Giacomo Nizzolo.

Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) came from a long way back to rejoin and sprint straight past his lead-out men in the final 250 metres, but without a saddle. Nizzolo (Qhubeka-Assos) jumped onto the Colombian's wheel to bridge to Edoardo Affini (Jumbo-Visma) who had attacked solo before taking the win.

But it is not yet known how Gaviria misplaced his perch. There was a bit of a reshuffling into the final two corners during the last kilometre that also saw Nizzolo's lead-out man Max Walscheid drop his chain, so perhaps it was there.

>>> Giacomo Nizzolo: My goal was to finish second, maybe that’s the trick to victory

Gaviria also suffered from a nose bleed with around 60km which was also a rather strange moment for him, but he managed to take back some points on Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) at the intermediate sprint before losing out the Slovakian rider in the sprint as Sagan finished third on the day, keeping his points jersey.

UAE Team Emirates' star sprinter has had a rough time the last couple of seasons having caught Covid-19 twice in 2020, bouncing back to win soon after both times but he has yet to take a win in 2021.

He looks to have the pace but various mishaps in the lead-out have meant that he has missed out on potential wins. Stage two of the Giro saw him taken out by his own team-mate, he went very early on stage seven to finish sixth and a poor lead into the final corner on stage 10 saw him come second behind Sagan.

We will update this story when we receive more information 

Fernando Gaviria has tested positive for coronavirus for the second time this year, forcing him to pull out of the Giro d’Italia.

UAE Team Emirates sprinter Gaviria returned a positive test for Covid-19 on the Giro’s second rest day on Monday (October 19), as the all riders and team staff were screened for the virus.

This is the second time Gaviria has contracted the illness, after he was forced to isolate after catching coronavirus at the UAE Tour in March. 

Gaviria is the fourth rider to pull out of the Giro with coronavirus, after Simon Yates, Steven Kruijswijk and Michael Matthews all tested positive in the first 10 days. 

However after leaving the race, Matthews' result was revealed to be a false positive after he was re-tested.

According to a joint statement from Giro organiser RCS and the UCI, 492 tests were carried out on the second rest day, but only two people in the race bubble tested positive for coronavirus - Gaviria and one staff member from AG2R La Mondiale.

Both have been left in the care of their team doctors to undergo isolation.

UAE Team Emirates said: "After undergoing a PCR test on yesterday’s Giro d’Italia rest day, UAE Team Emirates’ Fernando Gaviria has tested positive for COVID-19.

"All other riders and staff returned a negative test, and will undergo further testing today.

“The teams medical staff are monitoring the situation closely and doing all they can to ensure the we can proceed safely.

“Gaviria was immediately isolated following the test result and is feeling well and is completely asymptomatic. This is the second time the Colombian has tested positive for the virus, after also having it in March.” 

>>> WorldTour team bikes update: Mitchelton-Scott, Jumbo-Visma and Sunweb all swap machines 

 Gaviria was kept in isolation for almost a month earlier this year after he and a number of other riders and team staff tested positive for coronavirus at the UAE Tour earlier this year, as the race was cancelled due to an outbreak. 

Some of the biggest names in sprinting came up against each other for the first time since lockdown on stage two of the Vuelta a Burgos 2020, as Fernando Gaviria nailed the final turn and took a commanding victory.

This was the first chance to see some of the biggest sprinting names going flat out to the line, with the likes of Sam Bennett (Deceuninck - Quick-Step), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates), Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling) and more all in the mix.

Gaviria took the win ahead of Frenchman Démare, as Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) held onto his overall lead.

How it happened

Day two of the Vuelta a Burgos saw the peloton ride the almost pan flat 168km course between Castrojeriz and Villadiego.

The early break was made up of five riders - Ángel Fuentes (Burgos-BH), Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural), Riccardo Verza (Kometa-Xstra Cycling Team), Kiko Galván (Equipo Kern Pharma) and best placed rider, Alessandro Fedeli (Nippo-Delko-Provence), who started the day at just eight seconds down on the leader.

Racing was largely controlled by Bora-Hansgrohe, but NTT Pro Cycling, Groupama-FDJ and Deceuninck - Quick-Step put the occasional rider in to tap out the pace.

With 17km to go, the break was about to be caught, so Nicolau went on a solo attack, but the peloton were now in colour order ready for a sprint. Just 2km later and the Caja Rural rider was swallowed up and all the focus was put on the fast men.

The final 15km were on tight, twisty and undulating roads, but the peloton kept the pace from being too frantic.

As the peloton then started to descend rapidly towards Villadiego they joined a wider road with 5km to go, with sprint trains moving up left right and centre.

Matteo Trentin's CCC Team took control with 3km to go, stringing out the peloton. This allowed other sprint teams to make their way to the front. But as they hit the flamme rouge, Deceuninck - Quick-Step took to the front with Sam Bennett set to sprint.

>>> Another three riders sent home from Vuelta a Burgos after contact with someone who has coronavirus

But the final corner was taken best by Colombian Gaviria, who flew to a comfortable victory in stage two of the Vuelta a Burgos ahead of Démare and Bennett, who may have been held up by a late crash from a Equipo Kern Pharma rider.

Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished safely in the bunch and holds onto his eight second lead.

Gaviria showed no signs that the coronavirus had effected him in anyway, since recovering from the virus back in the spring. He was quarantined in UAE where he was racing the UAE Tour, before heading home to Colombia to rest and eventually train.

>>> How to watch Vuelta a Burgos 2020: Live stream the Spanish stage race featuring Mark Cavendish and Remco Evenepoel 

There was no sign of Mark Cavendish (Bahrain-McLaren) in what is a very important race for the 'Manx Missile' as he looks to gain a spot on the Tour de France team bus.

Results

Vuelta a Burgos 2020, stage two: Castrojeriz - Villadiego (168km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, in 3-55-38

2. Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ

3. Sam Bennett (Irl) Deceuninck - Quick-Step

4. Matteo Trentin (Ita) CCC Team

5. Jon Aberasturi (Esp) Caja Rural

6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

7. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) NTT Pro Cycling

8. Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

9. Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Team Jumbo Visma

10. Mikel Aristi (Esp) Fundacion Ciclista Euskadi, all at same time.

General classification

1. Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora Hansgrohe, in 7-35-59

2. Jon Aberasturi (Esp) Caja Rural, at 8s

3. Matteo Trentin (Ita) CCC Team

4. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) NTT Pro Cycling

6. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar

7. Mikel Landa (Esp) Bahrain-McLaren

8. George Bennett (Nzl) Team Jumbo Visma

9. Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott

10. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Team Ineos, all at same time

Fernando Gaviria is finally free to leave the UAE after he contracted coronavirus.

The UAE Team Emirates sprinter is the third rider confirmed to have been diagnosed with Covid-19 after an outbreak at the 2020 edition of the UAE Tour in February.

Gaviria announced on social media earlier this month that he had contracted the virus and was being kept under quarantine to reduce further spread, but that he “felt well.”

On Friday (March 27), UAE Team Emirates announced that Gaviria has recovered and is free to go home, two days after his lead-out rider Max Richeze was also given the all clear after contracting the virus.

Gaviria said: “I would like to say a big thank you to all who supported me during my recovery period. I hope that this extraordinary period we are all living can end soon and that we can return to normality.”

The UAE Tour was abandoned with three stages remaining after the organiser announced that a member of staff from an unnamed team had tested positive for coronavirus.

All riders, staff and the media at the race were quarantined in their hotel rooms while health authorities carried out tests, with most people being allowed to leave the country by March 1.

But four teams – UAE Team Emirates, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ and Gazprom-RusVelo were all kept locked down for further tests.

Dmitry Strakhov from Gazprom, Gaviria and Richeze all later confirmed they had tested positive for coronavirus.

Richeze said: “I want to thank all the doctors and nurses at the hospital for their help. A special thanks also to my team and all the people who gave me messages of support and love. Gracias!”

>>> Nairo Quintana says he left Movistar as he ‘did not want to argue with the other leaders’ 

The UAE Tour was the first time coronavirus impacted cycling at the highest level, but the virus has now completely upended the racing calendar.

With dozens of races now cancelled or postponed, the next men’s WorldTour race scheduled to run is the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, but as no-one knows how long this crisis will last that could change at any time.

Fernando Gaviria has confirmed he has coronavirus.

The Colombian sprinter has been off the radar since the UAE Tour was abandoned late last month, but he has since released a video confirming that he caught the Covid-19 virus.

UAE Team Emirates rider Gaviria was riding the seven-stage race when the final two stages were abandoned because of an outbreak of the virus in the team hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Gaviria, the UAE team and three other squads were kept under quarantine in their hotel for two weeks while health authorities carried out tests.

In a video statement posted on social media, the 25-year-old said in Spanish: "Hello everyone, I know that there have been many rumours about my state of health, but I am fine.

"I have been here in constant examinations that have given me a positive result for the coronavirus, but I feel well."

He added: "I am here to avoid spreading the virus to more people."

The UAE Tour was cancelled after stage five when the race organiser announced that a member of staff from an unnamed team had tested positive for the virus.

All riders, staff and media at the race were quarantined in their hotel rooms while health authorities carried out tests, with most people being free to go home by March 1.

But UAE Team Emirates, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ, and Gazprom-RusVelo were all kept locked down for further tests, with Cofidis and Groupama then being released.

However, UAE and Gazprom are still being kept in the Abu Dhabi, as Russian squad Gazprom announced that their rider Dmitry Strakhov had tested positive for the virus.

>>> Cycling and coronavirus: Everything you need to know

Gaviria is the second rider confirmed to have tested positive for Covid-19, which has caused a huge dent in the cycling calendar.

A number races have been cancelled, including Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo, while some teams took the decision to pull out of races to protect the health of their riders.

Fernando Gaviria is looking to bounce back from a 2019 season where he struggled to live up to the heights he hit in 2017 and 2018 and will look to target major victories in the spring Classics.

The Colombian sprinter has said he will make the first Monument of the season, Milan - San Remo, his season's "main objective", having come close to taking victory before with a fifth place finish in 2017.

"Milan - San Remo is a very nice race because it is the longest of the year. It has its difficulties and is a good race for sprinters," Gaviria told Spanish newspaper AS. "Right now it is my main objective. I have been close to winning it and we will work to ride well that day."

While the first Italian Monument of the season is the one Gaviria thinks he has the best chance of taking, it's the French one the 25-year-old would really love to win.

>>> Milan – San Remo in doubt after €10 million Poggio repair hangs in balance

"The one I like the most is Paris-Roubaix," Gaviria added, explaining that illness had prevented his first scheduled participation in the cobbled race last year. "In 2019 I was about to leave but on the day of the race I woke up with a fever and the team manager didn't let me leave. I've still never ridden the race so this year I will be trying to win it."

It's not just French cobbles that Gaviria fancies, he also hopes to compete on Belgian cobbles as he plans a busy early season. "I've already been [racing in Belgium] for three years and I like that feeling. They make the races more difficult and different. They generate more options for everyone and anyone can win in Belgium," he said.

As for the rest of 2020, his second with UAE - Team Emirates, Gaviria is taking it one step at a time and after the Vuelta a San Juan and the spring Classics he will then assess whether to take on a Grand Tour.

"We start in San Juan and then we will be focused on the Classics. Then we will make more decisions," Gaviria explained. "However, I think we will be on the Tour de France. I still do not put it down as a target because there are more than seven months left to decide."

The winner of two Tour stages in 2018, which also saw him take the yellow jersey on the opening day, Gaviria says he is looking to build on his consistency this year, having struggled to adapt to his new team after leaving Deceuninck Quick-Step at the end of 2018.

"2019 was a bit difficult due to the change of equipment and feelings. The knee injury was one of the causes of the bad year. It was hard for me to recover after almost three months without riding a bike," Gaviria said.

"It was hard for me to build my form, some days I felt very good, others very bad...but it's over and now we think about 2020. This year I learned that I have to be very careful with my body, not to overdo training and to eat right."

After his compatriot Egan Bernal won a first Tour de France for Colombia, Gaviria says he is determined to take more important victories for a nation where until recently major WorldTour success seemed a distant dream.

Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) is set to miss the 2019 Tour de France after failing to recover from a knee injury in time for the Grand Départ in Brussels on July 6.

The Colombian picked up the knee injury in a crash at the International Track Cup in California in April.

>>> Egan Bernal: ‘If Geraint Thomas is better than me I will help him at the Tour de France’

The news was broken by Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, with UAE Team Emirates expected to soon confirm Gaviria's omission from their Tour line up.

Gaviria took the start line at the 2019 Giro d'Italia but climbed off an hour into stage seven, with complaints over knee pain that clearly continue to plague him.

The Colombian left the Italian Grand Tour with one stage win after Elia Viviani was relegated after performing an illegal sprint on stage three.

2019 has so far been a season to forget for the 24-year-old, having retired from the Tour of Colombia on stage three due to respiratory problems, which also caused him to be a non-starter at Paris-Roubaix.

According to El Tiempo, the plan to save the Colombian's season is for him to recover and prepare for the Vuelta a España in August.

The news of his failure to return to the Tour de France won't come as a complete surprise as Gaviria's coach had warned at the Giro that there was "a big question mark" hanging over the Colombian's inclusion for the French Grand Tour.

In 2018, Gaviria won the stage one bunch sprint to take the yellow jersey, following up his debut Tour win three days later edging out Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the line by the smallest of margins.

He then climbed off alongside André Greipel (Arkéa-Samsic) and Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) on stage 11 en route to climbing Alpe d'Huez.

Gaviria then went to the Tour of Turkey before suffering a broken collarbone in a crash, which ended his 2018 campaign.

At the end of the season, Gaviria made the switch from Deceuninck - Quick-Step to UAE Team Emirates, signing a three- year deal.

Fernando Gaviria has abandoned the Giro d’Italia on stage seven.

The Colombian sprint star leaves the race with a single stage victory, handed to him after rival Elia Viviani (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) was relegated for dangerous sprinting.

His UAE Team Emirates outfit said Gaviria had been suffering with pain in his knee, which mean he couldn’t continue.

The team said on Twitter: “After a strong first week, Fernando Gaviria has been forced to quit the race due to pain in his left knee which he’s had for the last few days.”

>>>‘It sets a dangerous precedent’: Tour of California riders react to controversial UCI ruling

UAE have had a mixed opening week at the Giro d’Italia, starting with a bittersweet win for Gaviria on stage three.

Gaviria finished second at the line but was handed victory after the race jury ruled Viviani had cut across Trek-Segafredo’s Matteo Moschetti in the sprint, later saying “in my view Viviani is the winner.”

This was followed by the shock news that Juan Sebastian Molano had been pulled from the race ahead of stage four due to “unusual physiological results” found during internal testing.

The Colombian has been suspended by the team while the results are investigated.

In another change of fortune, UAE Team Emirates moved into the pink jersey as Valerio Conti was given enough space in the breakaway to take the lead from Jumbo-Visma’s Primož Roglič on stage six.

>>> ‘I’m feeling a bit down but I hope I’ll come around’: James Knox battling through injury at Giro d’Italia on Grand Tour debut

Amidst the drama in the Giro d’Italia, UAE Team Emirates were also hit by the news that their rider Kristijan Durasek had been linked with the Operation Aderlass blood doping scandal.

Durasek was pulled from the Tour of California and provisionally suspended by the UCI after the governing body was passed information by Austrian authorities.

UAE Team Emirates said: “The team hopes that Durasek can prove he was not involved in the affair. Should it be proven otherwise, he will be terminated immediately.”

Fernando Gaviria says he believes rival Elia Viviani is the true winner of stage three of the Giro d’Italia after the Italian was relegated for dangerous sprinting.

Gaviria finished second at the line but was handed victory after the race jury ruled Viviani had cut across Trek-Segafredo’s Matteo Moschetti in the sprint.

Colombian sprinter Gaviria did not celebrate on the podium and has vowed to take a “clear win” before the end of the Giro.

>>> ‘Like sitting on the indoor trainer for seven hours’: Mark Cavendish survives brutal day in Tour of California

Speaking after the stage, the 24-year-old said: “This isn’t really how I wanted to win and that’s why I didn’t celebrate on the podium.

“I don’t think he did it on purpose – he came straight out from [Pascal] Ackermann’s slipstream.

“This is the first time I’ve won because of the relegation rule but I guess these things happen, especially in sprinting.

“Regardless of the result, my team did a great job and I hope to repay them with a clear win as soon as possible.”

Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s Viviani celebrated victory in the Italian national champion’s jersey after a sedate pace on stage three, but the race jury later announced their decision to strip him of the win.

An infuriated Viviani was seen walking to the broadcast area of the finish to watch the sprint back before he sped back to the team bus.

Quick-Step sports director Rik Van Slycke defended his sprinter, saying “if you want to pass a rider you have to change lines.”

>>> Five talking points from stage three of the Giro d’Italia 2019

The controversy overshadowed Gaviria’s fifth career Giro d’Italia stage win, taken amidst a stacked sprint field including Viviani, Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ).

Stage four is a punchy day with three categorised climbs along the route from Orbetello to Frascati.

The closing 20km is a gradual rise to the line with a sharp final uphill 2km to decide the victor.

Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) was awarded the stage three victory of the Giro d'Italia 2019 after Elia Viviani (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) was relegated after coming across Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo) in the sprint finish.

Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) finished second with Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) third.

Ackermann went early once again, with the Italian champion sitting on his wheel before launching his sprint in windy conditions.

Moschetti appeared to not complain as he came across the finish line, as Gaviria high-fived Viviani to congratulate him on the wind.

However, the Giro d'Italia tweeted soon after the finish: "The jury watched the video footage of the sprint and have decided to relegate Elia Viviani. The winner is Fernando Gaviria".

Tao Geoghegan Hart was held up by a crash in the final 5km, which saw fellow Brit James Knox (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) hit the deck, with the Team Ineos man rolling across the line 1-31 down on the bunch accompanied by his team-mates. He now finds himself in 57th place overall, 2-03 down on Primož Roglič, who will keep his pink jersey for a third consecutive day.

Laurens de Plus (Lotto-Soudal), who alongside Geoghegan Hart was in the top ten on GC, 35 seconds down on Roglič at the start of the day, finished in 159th place on stage three, crossing the line more than 15 minutes after Gaviria. The Belgian now finds himself in 161st place on GC, 15-54 down.

Stage four should provide another day that is unlikely to see a big shake-up on GC, but should provide an unpredictable winner with the finish line up a small incline.

How it happened

Stage three threw up another opportunity for the sprinters, after Pascal Ackermann won the opening duel of the fast men on stage two, with only two intermediate sprints and a fourth category climb to keep the peloton entertained along the 220km stretch of road from Vinci to Orbetello.

In what was either an incident of incompetence or cruelty, only one rider made the day's break. Sho Hatsuyama (Nippo Vini Fantini) making his Grand Tour debut went it alone, the Japanese rider being the sole representative of his nation in this year's race after his countryman Hiroki Nishimura finished outside the time limit on the stage one 8km time trial.

Hatsuyama, who opened up a maximum gap of nearly five minutes during his day out front, went across the first intermediate sprint point first, with Arnaud Démare then taking the peloton across.

With 78km to go, Hatsuyama's gap was plummeting, with the pace in the peloton going up and causing a temporary split, which brought the 30-year-old's advantage down from 1-30 to just 30 seconds after another 2km of racing. Within another kilometre he had sat up and was promptly caught, having spent nearly 145km off the front.

Nervousness seemed to grip the peloton as they approached the second intermediate sprint, with Bora-Hansgrohe bringing Pascal Ackermann up to the front and Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) also moving up. However, it all quietened down just before the line, with Arnaud Démare going across first to take maximum points this time around, meaning he now has the lead in the sprint classification, with a four point lead over second-placed Michael Schwarzmann (Bora-Hansgrohe).

With just under 50km left to race, the television moto panned to Team Ineos' Tao Geoghegan Hart back in the team cars, a bloodied knee divulging he had fallen on the course, but the Brit made his way back into the pack without incident.

Blue jersey holder Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) came to the front for the solitary categorised climb of the day, the fourth category Poggio l'Apparita, to claim the maximum climbing points on offer to extend his lead in the king of the mountains to 18 points over François Bidard (Ag2r La Mondiale).

The sprinters' teams started forming their trains at the front of the peloton as they passed under the 10km banner, looking to protect their favourites for the win as they headed towards a technical finish in high winds.

Suddenly, Movistar dropped off the back as Richard Carapaz suffered a mechanical, with Antonio Pedrero sacrificing his bike so the Spanish team could try and time-trial their highest placed rider on GC back to the bunch as they sped towards the finish line.

With 5km to go, a crash brought down James Knox (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) as well as Enrico Battaglin (Katusha-Alpecin), with many riders including Tao Geoghegan Hart being held up, the Brit eventually finishing 1-31 behind and losing his top 10 spot on GC.

UAE Team Emirates and Groupama-FDJ headed up the bunch on the run-in to the finish, with riders stringing out behind, desperately clinging on despite the ferocious pace that was being set.

After Pascal Ackermann launched his sprint early once again, Viviani chose the German's wheel earlier than yesterday, meaning he could eventually come round the German to cross the finish line first.

A few minutes after the finish, news broke that the Italian champion had been relegated by the race jury after it was deemed he had impeded Matteo Moschetti in the finish. The Trek-Segafredo rider, however, didn't appear have any complaint as he came across the line as seen in television replays.

This meant that Fernando Gaviria, who congratulated Viviani across the finish line, was promoted to first place, with Arnaud Démare taking second and Pascal Ackermann taking third.

Stage four provides another day of racing that is unlikely to trouble the race lead of Primož Roglič, although the uphill finish should provide an unpredictable run-in.

Results

Giro d’Italia 2019, stage three: Vinci to Orbetello (220km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) UAE Team Emirates, in 5-23-19

2. Arnaud Démare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ

3. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe

4. Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data

6. Jakub Mareczko (Ita) CCC

7. Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy

8. Manuel Belletti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli - Sidermic

9. Christian Knees (Ger) Team Ineos

10. Sacha Modolo (Ita) EF Education First, all at same time

General classification after stage three

1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 10-21-01

2. Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 19 seconds

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 23s

4. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 28s

5. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Sunweb, at same time

6. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 33s

7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 39s

8. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 40s

9. Pello Bilbao (Esp) Astana, at 42s

10. Víctor de la Parte (Esp) CCC, at 45s

Fernando Gaviria has confirmed he will lead UAE Team Emirates at the 2019 Giro d'Italia.

Starting in Bologna on Saturday May 11, Gaviria will be racing his second ever Giro after winning four stages and the points classification in 2017 whilst racing for Deceuninck - Quick-Step.

This achievement "lifted me into the elite sprinters' group" says the Colombian. "Those were beautiful and very important moments for me," Gaviria added, "the thought of having the chance to relive them is exciting."

Gaviria says the team will "make the most" of the opportunities presented to sprinters over the early stages of the race, but that "it will be very difficult to fight for the points classification" as the race heads into the mountains.

During his second Grand Tour appearance, the 2018 Tour de France, Gaviria took the yellow jersey after winning stage one. He didn't make it to Paris, though, after finishing outside the time limit alongside a number of other sprinters on stage 11, which was the second major day in the Alps.

UAE Team Emirates had to change their Giro tactics following the news that Fabio Aru would undergo leg surgery and miss the race, therefore shifting their focus to Gaviria. The team directors then went about building a squad of riders, due to be announced next week, around the Colombian with the goal of hunting down stage wins.

>>> Giro d’Italia 2019 route: stage-by-stage analysis, elevation and maps

The 24-year-old has said he considers the Giro to be an important junction between the first and second parts of his season: "The missed Paris-Roubaix participation due to an illness closed the first part of my season earlier [than I had planned]. I observed a period of rest and then resumed training and was feeling good.

"The Giro d’Italia will be a highlight of my first year in the team, then we’ll think about the second part of the season".

Of the first nine stages before the first rest day, at least five of them are likely to end in sprint finishes. These stage wins are by no means guaranteed to Gaviria and UAE Team Emirates, with a big field of quality sprinters lining up to take on the first Grand Tour of the season.

Lotto-Soudal recently announced Caleb Ewan will lead the Belgian team at the Giro, after the Australian made the move from Mitchelton-Scott after struggling to come by Grand Tour apppearances with the Aussie outfit.

Italian champion Elia Viviani of Gaviria's old Deceuninck - Quick-Step team will also rival the Colombian for stage wins, as will Groupama-FDJ's Arnaud Démare.

Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) failed to take the start at today's Paris-Roubaix after being taken ill overnight, his team announced this morning.

The Colombian sprinter fell ill overnight and woke with a fever, meaning he was unable to roll out from Compiègne and attempt to win his first ever Monument.

Admittedly an outside bet to finish first on the cobbles, but the 24-year-old has picked up a couple of wins so far this season whilst team-mate Alexander Kristoff took a surprise victory at Ghent-Wevelgem last month.

Racing is underway in the 117th edition of Paris-Roubaix, with dry conditions expected out on the road today.

>>> Paris-Roubaix 2019 live TV guide

Favourites for the race today include reigning champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (CCC), with Gaviria's former Deceuninck-Quick-Step team-mates Zdeněk Štybar and Yves Lampaert also contenders for the win.

Fernando Gaviria was helped to victory in the UAE by “one of the best sprinters in the world," Alexander Kristoff.

The Colombian paid tribute to his old rival after stage two of the UAE Tour, where he bested a field full of powerhouses including his former team-mate Elia Viviani and Caleb Ewan.

Gaviria moved from Deceuninck – Quick-Step to UAE Team Emirates, where he has knocked Kristoff into second choice for the sprints.

The 24-year-old’s victory in Abu Dhabi was his first in a WorldTour event this year, adding to his tally after he won two stages of the Vuelta a San Juan last month.

>>> Sam Bennett on being led out by Peter Sagan: ‘People give you s**t online if you don’t pull it off’

Speaking after the stage, Gaviria said: “Kristoff did a really good job. He’s an amazing rider, because he’s also one of the best sprinters in the world and for today in the lead-out he was the best.

“I’m really happy for all the team and we’re happy for the victory in Abu Dhabi.”

Gaviria opened his sprint early on stage two, a day that was characterised by crosswinds causing chaos in the peloton, but was able to beat Viviani (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) into second place.

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) finished third.

With a field of world-class sprinters racing in the UAE, Gaviria reflected on his postion in the hierarchy: “I am one of the best sprinters in the world, because I got good results even before today.

“But it’s hard to make a list of who is the best and who is the second best because within two weeks it can change completely.

“I’m not looking at the future, I’m looking at the moment. I want to win now.

"I’ve trained a lot for winning and I hope to win a lot this year. “

On Viviani, he added: ”It’s not just a good victory because I beat Elia Viviani.

“Winning is always special, whoever we win against.

“Elia is a top rider. We aren’t team-mates anymore but now we sprint against each other."

>>> Marcel Kittel: ‘I’ve learned that your career doesn’t always go upwards’

Kristoff is often strong in the early part of the season, winning stages of the Tour of Oman and the Abu Dhabi Tour last season.

He went on to win the prestigious final sprint stage of the Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées in 2018.

But this year the 31-year-old will be backing the younger Gaviria on the biggest stages, including the Tour where both men are due to race.

Fernando Gaviria says he is “relaxed and enjoying every race” with his new UAE Team Emirates squad, after a sudden move at the end of 2018.

The Colombian sprinting talent has opened his season strong and hopes to continue that trajectory at the UAE Tour, his new team’s home race.

Gaviria unexpectedly switched from Deceuninck – Quick-Step at the end of 2018 after budget constraints for the Belgian team forced them to sell the young powerhouse.

>>> Ben Swift recovering after suffering spleen rupture in training crash

When asked about the significance of opening strong with a new team, the 24-year-old told Cycling Weekly: “It’s really important. When you change teams, you never know what will happen.

“It’s really good for the motivation. I’m comfortable in the team. I’m relaxed and enjoying every race.”

Speaking ahead of the inaugural UAE Tour, he added: “I feel really good. Things are really good with the team.

“This is the first really big race of the year and the team are ready.”

Gaviria won two stages of the Vuelta a San Juan, including his first race day of the season on stage one.

He has taken victory in his first time out every year since 2015.

>>> UAE Tour 2019 live TV guide

Gaviria has won six Grand Tour stages – four at his debut Giro d’Italia in 2017, and two in his first Tour de France last season.

He is set to return to the Tour in 2019.

After a brilliant performance in his first race of the year in Argentina, Gaviria then went on to ride his home race Tour Colombia but was forced to pull out after stage two.

He said: “It’s true I didn’t finish. I had a respiratory problem, trouble breathing.

“I pulled out because the UAE Tour is a very important race for us.

“I’m 100 per cent recovered.

“I’m here with Alexander Kristoff and between us we’ll see what we can do in the sprints.”

The first UAE Tour opens with a team time trial on Sunday (February 24) and ends on Saturday, March 2.

Sprint star Fernando Gaviria made a big statement with his second stage win at the Vuelta a San Juan, having crashed out on the same roads one year ago.

The Colombian has moved to UAE Team Emirates from Quick-Step but is not showing any signs of rust after the switch.

Gaviria took his second glory of the week on stage four, after being released in perfect position by team-mate Simone Consonni and holding off Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).

The victory came 12 months after Gaviria left the Argentinian stage race in an ambulance on the same stage, crashing 45km from the finish.

>>> ‘It’s just a jersey’: Sagan says pressure still the same even without rainbow bands

After his success on Wednesday (January 30), the 24-year-old said: “It was a special stage because one year ago I went home in an ambulance.

“It’s great to win a second time here, paying back the work of the team who fought those other teams and helped me for the sprint finish.

“It was a high-level sprint against serious rivals like Sagan and [Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s Alvaro] Hodeg.

“The team was perfect in the approach of the last corner, then Consonni was very good at launching me.”

Gaviria also took victory on stage one, his first race day of the 2019 season.

He has now won his opening race of the season every year since 2015.

>>> Deceuninck – Quick-Step miss Vuelta a San Juan podium ceremony amid Iljo Keisse controversy

Many sprinters take time to settle into a new set-up, particularly when leaving one as dominant as Quick-Step.

German sprinter Marcel Kittel left the Belgian outfit ahead of the 2018 season to join Katusha-Alpecin, and failed to pick up his first victory until Tirreno-Adriatico in March last year.

Australian Caleb Ewan is the latest top-shelf sprinter to switch teams, leaving Mitchelton-Scott for Lotto-Soudal.

After getting off to a blistering start in the pre-WorldTour criteriums in Australia, Ewan crossed the line first on stage five of the Tour Down Under.

But the 24-year-old was stripped of the win for headbutting in the final, leaving him without a win at the highest level.

Gaviria has not been hit with the same sprinter’s drought, his double San Juan victories making an emphatic statement in the early season.

Fernando Gaviria will leave Quick-Step Floors for UAE Team Emirates next season, with his new team confirming the signing on Wednesday night.

The Colombian sprinter has spent three successful seasons at Quick-Step since turning professional with the Belgian team, winning six Grand Tour stages including four at the 2017 Giro d'Italia and two at this year's Tour de France.

>>> Mark Cavendish re-signs with Dimension Data for 2019

Gaviria was one of a number of riders at Quick-Step who began looking for a new team after team manager Patrick Lefevere struggled to find another sponsor for the squad going forward. However, even the addition of PVC company Deceuninck as a sponsor has seemingly failed to keep Gaviria in the squad.

Lefevere told Cyclingnews earlier this week that he did not "want to keep people against their will," and that he could not think "too long term and into 2020 and 2021, so some riders start to talk to other teams."

Gaviria, 24, will now join UAE on a three-year deal and is likely to take over lead sprinting duties ahead of Alexander Kristoff.

“I  change team after having always raced in the same group, which has given me the possibility to make the next jump to the highest level,” Gaviria said.

“With the new jersey, I’m not going to hide my desires and I want the biggest wins. I’m happy to be able to race with my countrymen [Sergio] Henao, [Christian] Muñoz and [Juan Sebastian] Molano.

"Thanks to the UAE Team Emirates for the faith it put in me."

Quick-Step, who took over 70 victories this season, have regularly let big names go and placed faith in developing riders. Gaviria was the designated lead sprinter only after Marcel Kittel left for Katusha-Alpecin at the end of 2017, and the likes of Colombian Alvaro Hodeg and Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen will look to fill the void left by Gaviria.

Quick-Step Floors boss Patrick Lefevere says the future of young star sprinter Fernando Gaviria remains unclear.

The Colombian was rumoured to be leaving the team to reduce the budget as Lefevere continued the search for a new sponsor.

But three days after the news that Gaviria could move on surfaced, Quick-Step announced a new title sponsor would be coming on board in a multi-year deal.

But Lefevere has told Belgium newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that the new sponsorship has not secured Gaviria’s place on the team.

>>> Peter Kennaugh says he’s ‘coming back slowly but surely’ after time off this season

He said: “There is no clarity at the moment.

“The fact that we only got our sponsorship very late was annoying in that sense.”

Gaviria picked up nine of Quick-Step's 71 race wins this season, but was forced to end his season a few days early after breaking his collarbone on the opening stage of the Tour of Turkey.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this month that “almost everything was done” for the transfer of the Colombian sprinter to UAE Team Emirates for 2019.

Gavaria’s salary is believed to be around the €2million mark, while the team runs on an estimated €18million annually.

Lefevere added: “Suppose we lose Fernando, we still have Viviani. And it is up to our young talents to show themselves.”

The Belgian window profile manufacturer Deceuninck will be joining the team sponsorship from next season as the team will be known as Deceuninck-Quick-Step.

A multi-year deal has been signed between the two parties after a concerted effort to find more backers by Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere.

Deceuninck, which was founded in 1937 and is based in Belgium, will have its logo prominently displayed on the jersey, according to the team.

The 2018 Quick-Step roster also includes star riders Niki Terpstra, Philippe Gilbert, Julian Alaphilippe, Bob Jungles and Yves Lampaert.

Terpstra, winner of this year’s Tour of Flanders, is leaving after eight years to join Direct Energie in 2019.

Lefevere has been forced to let go others in the past too, like Marcel Kittel and Dan Martin, to keep costs down.

Fernando Gaviria is out of the Tour of Turkey with a broken collarbone after a crash in the final 5km of the first stage.

The Colombian was caught in a squeeze in the final, but his Quick-Step Floors lead-out team were not deterred and went on to win the stage regardless.

Gaviria was trapped between two riders in the middle of the peloton with 3.9km left to ride and came down after touching wheels with a rider in front.

>>>New Chinese team will have a bigger budget than Team Sky, according to CEO

The 24-year-old immediately reached for his collarbone and looked in a lot of pain.

Gaviria was immediately taken to hospital after the stage and X-rayed, revealing a clavicle fracture.

The sprinter will fly to Belgium on Wednesday where he will undergo further examination to detefmine whether surgery is needed.

This crash brings Gaviria's season to an early conclusion, as the Tour of Turkey was due to be the Colombian's final days of racing this year.

After being given attention by doctors at the side of the road, the Quick-Step Floors man remounted his bike and rode to the line, but could not hold the handlebars with his right hand.

Undeterred by the crash of their lead sprinter, Quick-Step Floors kept the pressure on to the line, and Max Richeze was able to spring clear of the bunch in the final turn to take the win.

The calm response to losing their leader in the closing stages shows the depth of the Quick-Step squad.

Richeze was followed across the line by Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jempy Drucker (BMC).

Stage one of the Tour of Turkey was a 150km stretch starting and finishing in Konya, with category two and three climbs in the route.

But the final 40km were mostly downhill with a long, flat run  to the finish.

Gaviria’s future at Quick-Step has come into question in recent weeks, as team boss Patrick Lefevere tried to reduce the budget for 2019 while struggling to find a new sponsor.

Both Gaviria and Vuelta a España podium placer Enric Mas were rumoured to be leaving the team.

But Quick-Step announced on Monday evening that a new sponsor would be coming on board from 2019 as part of a multi-year deal.

From next season, Deceuninck window profile manufacturer will be joining the team, which will be known as Deceuninck-Quick Step.

So far there has been no further update on the line-up.

Results

Tour of Turkey 2018 stage one, Konya-Konya (150km)

1. Max Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-29-13

2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe

3. Jempy Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing

There are a couple of reasons why Fabian Cancellara has worn the yellow jersey in five separate Tours. One of them is down to his supreme time trialling ability; the other is the tradition that, over the past 50 years, Tour de France course designers have had a tendency to favour a prologue or short time trial to kick off the three weeks of racing.

This resulted in an unbroken streak of 40 years of stages against the clock to begin the race from 1967 to 2007. This streak was broken when Alejandro Valverde was the first to take advantage of the opening massed start in 2008 from Brest to Plumelec, with victory up the Côte de Cadoudal.

It would take another five years until the pure sprinters got their chance to take the double whammy of stage victory and yellow jersey. Marcel Kittel did so on a hectic finish into Bastia, Corsica, in 2013. “It was a big honour and was a great moment, especially for a sprinter,” the German sprinter says, looking back ahead of stage one of this year’s race.

>>> Tour de France 2018: Latest news, reports and race info

“I didn’t place extra pressure on that day compared to any of the other 21 stages, as it is just one day, but it is more a case of an extra bonus that comes with the winner of that day.”

That bonus this year fell to Quick Step’s Fernando Gaviria, as he was the first across the line into Fontenay-le-Comte.

However, this year’s race also showed the other, somewhat cruel side to that bonus — sprinters rarely hold on to yellow for more than a single day. Gaviria, a Tour debutant, surrendered the maillot jaune despite the opportunity to buck the trend on a second stage that seemed built for him to double his win record.

Recent history suggests that we may be in the early years of an era with more opportunities for sprinters to get their hands on the yellow jersey, with four ‘flat’ stages kicking off the Tour over the last six years.

Of course, the opening stage of the race offers the opportunity for sprinters to take the jersey, without relying on a strong personal performance against the clock or on their team-mates in team time trials.

However, it is not impossible for a rider with a decent kick to take yellow after a few days, but even for more versatile all-rounders the reality they will probably lose the jersey very soon is obvious from the moment the stage is won.

Short but sweet

“For myself when I took the yellow jersey, the objective was never to hold it all the way to Paris, especially when you take it on stage four which is when I think I took it on,” explains Simon Gerrans, holder of the yellow jersey from stages four and five in the 2013 race.

"In that Tour de France the goal was always the first part of the race, to try and win a stage and get the yellow jersey. So for me it was never a case of holding it for an extended period; it was just to take the win and hold the jersey at some point, because it’s a huge honour to wear the yellow jersey and to lead the world’s biggest bike race.”

One of the yellow jersey wearers the last time the race visited the Vendée region in 2011 was Philippe Gilbert, who took the honours after a high placing in the prologue the day before a stage win at Mont des Alouettes.

Unfortunately, it was to be an even shorter stint than some of the riders before and after him, which made him relish the moment with the inevitable loss of the jersey forthcoming.

“It was a team time trial the next day and it was only 20km so I only had it for 22 minutes or so, so it was really short but nice,” he says.

Despite the limited time spent in yellow, the Belgian multiple Monument winner felt something different that day that he hadn’t felt before or since:

“You realise you are not someone any more but you are the yellow jersey, people point and say, ‘That is the yellow jersey,’ and they don’t even mention your name or nationality.

"They don’t even care because you are the yellow jersey, you are not a person any more, you are just a symbol of the Tour de France and you are something that people want to see — in a good way. It’s special; they don’t know it or know who you are but you are this thing they want to see.”

Respect of the jersey

It is often said that riders who have the yellow jersey on their shoulders ride with not only an extra chunk of respect, but the presence that the jersey gives results in an increase in personal space within the peloton compared to normal circumstances.

Whereas this may be the case for a general classification contender heading into the mountains where the fight for position isn’t as heated, when it comes down to the crunch point in a sprint, etiquette goes out of the window.

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“You have more respect because they give more room to you, especially around the team, but when it’s a fight for position then nobody cares,” explains Thor Hushovd, wearer of the yellow jersey on four separate occasions, only one of which lasted more than a day.

The Norwegian fastman gained these moments in the sun through a variety of methods including a notable prologue performance, team time trials and sprints. But when it then came for him to contest a sprint the next day it did him little good.

“The first time I had the yellow was in 2004 and the last was in 2011 and the respect in the peloton just got worse and worse, which is also maybe fair because it is so important for everyone,” he explains.

Hushovd was mainly known for his green jersey exploits and his maillot vert rival Mark Cavendish supporting his claim that “the days are long gone of anyone getting any space” regardless of the colour of their jersey.

Pinnacle of the sport

No matter what successes a rider has in their career it is more than likely that a stint in the maillot jaune places highly on their list of achievements. A day in yellow can make a career for an unknown rider, turning them into an overnight star with future riches and contracts almost guaranteed.

But does the lure of the Tour leader’s jersey still appeal to riders who are used to wearing it? “It was a big thrill to win the first jersey, but the reality is that it doesn’t change your life but you know that you’ve added something important to your sporting career,” says Mario Cipollini, three times a holder of yellow in two separate Tours, as well as a multitude of Worlds, Giro and one-day wins.

“Every victory has its meaning and they all stay with you somehow. The big wins at the Worlds, Milan-San Remo, a pink jersey or a yellow jersey were all part of my dreams as a boy. Every one of them had its part in my career.” It was only the Tour’s yellow jersey though that meant Cipollini incurred a fine, for matching his shorts to his jersey.

However fortunate the romance and riches that the Tour and the jerseys may bring the riders, the cut-throat world of professional sport means those victories are quickly forgotten: “Cycling is always a case of starting from zero each year. What you won last year is forgotten, or even the day before, but the satisfaction remains.

“Sometimes you find a big satisfaction in a smaller race that doesn’t have a big famous yellow jersey associated with it or is known around the world.”

Despite his claims it’s clear that some jerseys still mean more than others.

“I have all of my yellow jerseys framed like paintings in my home in Lucca,” Cipolloni confides.

How Mark Cavendish's maillot jaune was won

Roger Hammond was behind the wheel of the Dimension Data team car in 2016, the day Mark Cavendish got his hands on the yellow jersey at Utah Beach. Cavendish missed out on two previous opportunities in Yorkshire and Corsica in the preceding years to Marcel Kittel, but Hammond explains how his first day at the Tour working in a sports director role for the British sprinter will be one he won’t forget.

“He has had a pretty rough run up to all three Tours [I’ve been on] but you go there with hopes that it’s all going to work out and it was pretty amazing.

“There is that little bit of stress in the car where you are waiting for the announcement to come through; there is always radio silence going on from the race organisers, they are always giving you loads of information until the last 500 metres and then it goes completely silent and seems to take forever for the result to come through and you just hear a little crackle on the rider radio and then the news that he won. Then it is ecstasy.

>>> Where to watch Tour de France 2018: live TV guide

“The nice thing was that everyone had written him off, including the British cycling press, so it’s always nicer to come out and do what he did and not only take the yellow jersey but to win four stages. It kind of puffs us up and makes us strut around a little bit more.

“It was his childhood dream and it was lovely to be a part of it because he always wanted to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, first in the Harrogate stage which didn’t work out, then he got his opportunity and he is hugely proud of it. It was a difficult stage for him to defend the jersey but that wasn’t the point; it was an uphill stage the next day and he got his day in yellow.

It made more of an impression that year because there was only one opportunity to take that yellow jersey, especially with Peter Sagan in the race with the uphill finish. He cares about the world of cycling and the history and wearing the yellow jersey in the Tour is part of that.

Fernando Gaviria is out of this Saturday's Milan-San Remo after fracturing his hand in a crash at the end of stage six of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Gaviria had been one of the favourites for the opening Monument of the 2018 season, but will now be forced to watch the race on television after hitting the deck with 7.8km to go on the Tirreno-Adriatico stage to Fano.

The crash appeared to be caused by a momentary lapse of concentration on the part of the Colombian sprinter, as he touched the back wheel of lead-out man Maximiliano Richeze, hitting the deck hard and bringing down a large number of other riders.

Gaviria remounted his bike and completed the stage more than four minutes behind stage winner Marcel Kittel, but looked in some pain as he completed the final few kilometres with barely any material left on the left-side of his bib shorts.

The Quick-Step Floors sprinter was x-rayed by race medics after completing the stage, where he was diagnosed with a fracture to his left hand.

>>> Marcel Kittel out-sprints Peter Sagan on Tirreno-Adriatico stage six after large crash disrupts finale

"Gaviria has got a displaced fracture of his first metacarpal of his left hand," a race doctor told assembled media after the stage.

"He will need surgery to repair the fracture and fix it in place. One part of the bone has moved over another part. It needs to be put back in place.

"To make a full recovered he will need at least four weeks. It will be difficult for him to ride before that - the fracture needs time to stabilise."

Gaviria's injury means he now looks certain to miss Milan-San Remo, where he had been expected to challenge for the victory. He had also been scheduled to ride a full cobbled Classics campaign, including the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

However with the last of the cobbled races, Paris-Roubaix, coming in just under four weeks time, Gaviria's Classics challenge may have to wait another year.

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) spent the night in the hospital with an uncertain spring classics ahead following a crash in the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina on Wednesday.

Gaviria abandoned the race after a crash in the cross-wind section of stage four to Villa San Agustín. He fell with many other riders and injured his left knee.

"He broke his helmet," Quick-Step Floors sports director Davide Bramati told Cycling Weekly.

"He's scraped up his left knee, yes. He sat down in the team car for 10 minutes with the team doctor and we decided that it was better that he stopped. Also his back, his arm, his hands were scraped."

The team ruled out fractures, but doctors in San Juan elected to keep Gaviria under observation at the hospital.

>>> Max Richeze delivers sprint win on stage four of Vuelta a San Juan

The team celebrated little when Maximiliano Richeze – Gaviria's normal lead-out man – won the fourth stage. After dinner and a toast of wine from the Malbec vineyards, Bramati went to visit Gaviria in the hospital.

Gaviria went by ambulance to a local hospital near the finish line and then transferred to the San Juan provincial hospital.

A team official said: "Gaviria suffered multiple abrasions on his body and a deep wound on the left knee, but does not need stitches."

The crash at around 50 kilometres to race could have far-reaching consequences for Gaviria. The 23-year-old Colombian is aiming to perform for the Belgian WorldTour team at the opening Classics races in Europe: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne at the end of February.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwlkQ_Jlimk

He also wants to race Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The team is then letting him race for sprint wins for the first time in the Tour de France.

"It's important that it's nothing serious, but we are still far off from the big races," said Bramati. "It's important nothing is broken.

"It is just San Juan, yes, but it would have been better that this didn't happen and he didn't pull out. If nothing's broken he will have time to recover and keep going."

>>> Fernando Gaviria takes first victory of season at Vuelta a San Juan

Time will tell for Gaviria, who was slated to race in the national championships and then Colombian stage race Oro y Paz starting on February 6.

After the Vuelta a San Juan ends on Sunday, Gaviria was due to travel to Medellín on Tuesday and train together with the team. He then should travel to Cali for the six-day stage race Oro y Paz.

Doctors and Quick-Step Floors will need to re-evaluate the situation on Thursday morning when Gaviria wakes up. He could remain there for a day or two, or travel directly home to recover.

Gaviria won the opening stage of the Vuelta a San Juan last Sunday. The stage race continues after Thursday's rest day, with stage five to Alto Colorado on Friday.

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) took his first victory of 2018 as he won the opening stage of the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina.

Gaviria, who has now won the first stage of the race for the first four years, sprinted clear of the Italian duo of Niccolo Bonifazio (Bahrain-Merida) and Matteo Pelucchi (Bora-Hansgrohe) to take the win in Pocito.

The race began without one of its biggest names, with Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) not taking to the start line due to illness, before a host of South American riders made it into the main break of the day.

Pablo Anchieri (Uruguay), Daniel Juarez (Asociacion Civil Mardan) and Adrian Richeze (A.C.A. Virgen De Fatima), Duilio Ramos (Argentina), Victor Olivares (Chile), Juan Melivilo (Municipalidad de Pocito), and Facundo Cattapan (Municipalidad de Rawson) enjoyed a maximum lead of two minutes, before the WorldTour teams took control of the chase.

>>> Seven riders with a point to prove in 2018

Quick-Step Floors, UAE Team Emirates, and Trek-Segafredo joined forces to reduce the gap and make the catch with just under 20km remaining. From there a few other futile moves were attempted on the finishing circuit around Pocito, but were quickly swept up as the peloton prepared for a bunch sprint.

While other teams squabbled on the front of the bunch in the final five kilometres, Quick-Step were content to sit back and bide their time, with Iljo Keisse and Maximiliano Richeze only bring Gaviria up to the head of affairs in the final kilometre.

With 200m to go, Richeze peeled off to leave Gaviria with a clear run to the line, an opportunity that he did not miss as he took a comfortable victory.

Results

Vuelta a San Juan 2018, stage one: San Juan to Pocito, 148.9km

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-15-23

2. Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Bahrain-Merida

3. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe

4. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

5. Manuel Belletti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec

6. Mauro Richeze (Arg) A.C.A. Virgen De Fatima

7. Hector Lucero (Arg) Municipalidad de Pocito

8. Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr) UAE Team Emirates

9. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors

10. Manuel Peñalver (Esp) Trevigiani Phonix-Hemus, all at same time

General classification after stage one

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-15-13

2. Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 4 secs

3. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 6 secs

4. Daniel Juarez (Arg) Asociacion Civil Mardan, at 7 secs

5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 10 secs

6. Manuel Belletti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec

7. Mauro Richeze (Arg) A.C.A. Virgen De Fatima

8. Hector Lucero (Arg) Municipalidad de Pocito

9. Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr) UAE Team Emirates

10. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors, all at same time

Blink and you'll miss him ... @FndoGaviria sprints to Stage 1 success at @TourofGuangxi and @quickstepteam celebrate 🇨🇳🍾🍾🍾 #TourofGuangxi pic.twitter.com/HX2obUidQA

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) October 19, 2017

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) won the opening stage of the first edition of the Tour of Guangxi in China on Thursday.

The Colombian took the victory from the bunch sprint in Beihai at the end of a flat, fast-paced circuit-based stage measuring 107 kilometres. It's the 23-year-old's 11th victory this season, including four stage wins in the Giro d'Italia in May.

Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) came home for second place, with Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) in third.

The peloton came together to set up a bunch sprint after the day's four-rider escape group comprising Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors), Silvan Dillier (BMC), Nicolas Dougall (Dimension Data) and Andriy Grivko (Astana) had been caught.

>>> Team Sky reveal line-up for final WorldTour race of season: the Tour of Guangxi

Gaviria wears the leader's jersey going into stage two. Dillier is in second place overall, one second behind Gaviria after securing nine valuable bonus seconds via the three intermediate sprints in the break. Groenewegen is third at four seconds.

The six-stage Tour of Guangxi makes its debut in the top-flight WorldTour this season. It continues on Friday with stage two, running from Qinzhou to Nanning over 156.7km which should give the sprinters another opportunity to take a win. The race concludes on Tuesday, October 24.

Result

Tour of Guangxi 2017, stage one: Beihai to Beihai, 107.4km

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 2-20-01

2. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo

3. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe

4. Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb

5. Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac

6. Andrea Guardini (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

7. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky

8. Dylan Page (Sui) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA

9. Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin

10. Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto-Soudal, all same time

General classification after stage one

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 2-19-51

2. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing, at 1 sec

3. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 4 secs

4. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 6 secs

5. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana, at 6 secs

6. Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Quick-Step Floors, at 7 secs

7. Nicolas Dougall (RSA) Dimension Data, at 8 secs

8. Max Walscheid (Ger) Team Sunweb, at 10 secs

9. Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac, at 10 secs

10. Andrea Guardini (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 10 secs

Caleb Ewan, the winner of the stage one of this year's Tour of Britain, has said that his career will be not be judged against his fellow young sprinting prodigy Fernando Gaviria.

The Orica-Scott rider took the opening win of the British tour in Kelso on Sunday, just edging across the finishing line in first place, his eighth victory of 2017.

At 23, Australian Ewan is just six weeks older than Quick-Step Floors' Gaviria, with the pair heralded as the future superstars of sprinting. At the Giro d'Italia in May, Gaviria won four stages and Ewan one, both beating established sprinters such as André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal).

>>> Caleb Ewan wins opening stage of 2017 Tour of Britain in close bunch sprint

In races where both have competed, Gaviria has won eight times to Ewan's three, and while the latter accepts that the Colombian is likely to be his principal rival in the next decade, he believes it is important that people don't become too fixated at just focusing on them both.

"Fernando is one who will stick with me for the rest of my career and it's always nice to get one up on him," Ewan told Cycling Weekly. "But it's not just a battle between him and me: there are a lot of good sprinters coming up, a lot of young guys sprinting really well, and that's exciting for the future of sprinting.

What's coming up at the Tour of Britain

"It's always nice to win and not just against him [Gaviria]. He is a guy who will be with me my whole career as he is the same age as me, but to get one up on Cav or Greipel is just as nice.

"Dylan [Groenewegen] has had a few good results in the past couple of years and is definitely one to watch. Sky have just signed Chris Lawless who is a good sprinter and definitely one of the guys coming through."

Four of the remaining six stages of this year's Tour of Britain are expected to end in bunch sprints, representing more opportunities for Ewan and Gaviria alike.

For Ewan, it is his last major target of the season as he will not be racing the World Championships in Bergen, Norway, later this month; his former trade team-mate Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) will be leading the Australian team.

"At the moment, Michael [is the leader] and I won't be going to the Worlds," he confirmed. "They have made it pretty clear that they want one leader there.

"The course would suit Michael a little more than it does me so it's only fair for him that they take a team to back him 100 percent."

On stage hunting this week, he said: "It's always good to start the year well and to end the year well to set you up for next season. This is my last real big goal of the season.

"I will be trying to get as many stage wins as I can. A few more would be great, but if not it's good that I have got one already."

Both Fernando Gaviria and Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) have received custom painted S-Works bikes following their standout Grand Tour performances at the Giro d'Italia.

First up, Fernando Gaviria's Specialized S-Works Venge Vias is resplendent in a beautiful shining purple paint job. It's a dazzling make over, and must look spectacular when caught in the right light.

It's a special bike for a special rider, and there can be no doubt that Gaviria gave one of the stand out performances of this year's Giro d'Italia.

The young Colombian raced to four sprint victories in his debut grand tour, giving one of the best Grand Tour debut since Peter Sagan's triple win at the Vuelta a España.

As a sprinter, he'll be more interested in aerodynamics than weight, so opts for the Venge Vias as it allows him to cut through the wind thanks to the integrated front end and aero bars, plus that slinky seat tube.

In terms of components, the bike comes equipped with old Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9050 groupset, and a pair of Roval's deep section wheels.

Watch: Which pro has the fastest aero bike

However, Gaviria wasn't the only young rider on the Quick-Step Floors team to demonstrate his talent on the world stage, as Bob Jungels had everybody talking, too.

Here we have Jungels' S-Works Tarmac frame done over in a white paint job to honour the Luxembourgish rider's white jersey in the Giro d'Italia.

Earlier in the race he also held the maglia rosa and won stage 15, when the route headed to Bergamo.

Rather than an aero bike like Gaviria, however, Jungels has opted for Specialized's Tarmac offering, preferring the lighter weight and the climbing prowess over improved aerodynamics.

Fernando Gaviria's best win yet

Four wins in a debut Grand Tour is an incredible feat, especially if you're 22. But to take your fourth in such impressive style is even more incredible.

As the riders at the front of the bunch began to unleash their sprints for the line, Fernando Gaviria was barely in touching distance of them.

Someone near you probably said, or you probably thought to yourself, 'Gaviria's out of this one'. But the Colombian put in an incredible turn of speed to come round the right side of the front group of riders to beat Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) and Roberto Ferrari (UAE Team Emirates) who were already in full sprint.

Not only did Gaviria come from 10 metres or so behind to beat them, he was able to sit up and celebrate ahead of the line.

If you weren't impressed before by his talent during this Giro, this surely secures his status as one of the hottest prospects in cycling.

Now we wait for the mouthwatering prospect of Gaviria versus Peter Sagan at one of the Grand Tours...

Ewan left frustrated (again)

After his win on stage seven, it was a return to the same old frustrations for Caleb Ewan.

Aside from his win on the tricky finish on the seventh day of racing, Ewan has missed out on fighting for victory in the sprint stages for various reasons.

Today, he seemed to get box in by the slowing leadout mean, and was visibly annoyed as he realised there was no way through to the front.

As Bora and Quick-Step's final leadout riders drifted to the right of the road, Ewan appeared to get sandwiched somewhere between, coming shoulder to shoulder with Max Richeze (Quick-Step) at one point.

Gaviria was able to alongside the barriers on the right hand side, while the Australian appeared to miss his opportunity to take a jump to the left and get round Rudi Selig (Bora) as he finished his effort for Sam Bennett.

It'll be doubly frustrating for the young Aussie, as he'll likely call it quits at the Giro after today with this the final sprint stage on the 2017 route.

That lived up to the hype

And that hype was...that this stage wouldn't be that entertaining.

While the very final part of the sprint issued some excitement because of Gaviria's fantastic effort, the rest of the day was, well, pretty forgettable.

If you left the room for two hours (or more) and came back, you definitely wouldn't have missed much.

Farewell sprinters, we hardly knew ye

And it's goodbye to many of the sprinters.

André Greipel said it was an "easy decision" for the fast-men to jump ship from the Giro at this point. Frankly, that's understandable. If you've not got a penchant for climbing, a trip up the Mortirolo, the Stelvio and the Monte Grappa with only a time trial waiting for you on the final day is not going to give you much motivation.

Gaviria is likely to be the only one who holds on through the next week and a bit, with his team keen to give him the full experience (horror) of a three-week race, while the man himself will be eager to seal the maglia ciclamino points jersey.

Mountains, mountains, mountains

From here on in, it's pretty much GC stages all the way. There's a couple which are likely to see the main men finish all together, but we've got some big days coming up, starting with the next summit finish on Saturday.

Despite the loss of Geraint Thomas for good to this year's GC narrative, we've still got to wait and see how Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) copes on the really big mountain days.

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) took an incredible fourth stage win of the 2017 Giro d'Italia as he comprehensively out-sprinted Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) on stage 13 to Tortona.

The Colombian sprinter was poorly positioned going into the final 300m, despite his Quick-Step Floors team working hard to battle with Bora-Hansgrohe on the front of the peloton.

Bora-Hansgrohe once again performed a near-perfect lead-out effort as they put Bennett in a prime position to take his first Grand Tour stage win, with the Irishman unleashing his sprint at the perfect moment for 200m to go.

>>> 'He's a superstar of the future': Is Fernando Gaviria's Grand Tour debut one of the greatest ever?

At that point Gaviria was so far back that he was barely in shot from the helicopter camera, but the Colombian picked the perfect line down the right of the road as he swept past team-mate Maximiliano Richeze and a frustratedly boxed-in Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott).

That move enabled him to carry plenty of speed into the final 150m, where he overhauled Bennett 25m before the line, raising his arms in celebration to continue his dream Grand Tour debut.

As for the overall contenders, there was no change at the top of the general classification, with the riders happy to save their legs for Saturday's summit finish to Oropa

How it happened

Stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia saw the riders face the prospect of 167 tediously flat kilometres from Reggio Emilia to Tortona, with four riders going clear with the first attack of the day.

They were Pavel Brutt (Gazprom - Rusvelo), Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates), Vincenzo Albanese (Bardiani-CSF), and Johann Van Zyl (Dimension Data), although Van Zyl was called back to the bunch, presumably on team orders.

With this probably being the last chance for the sprinters to grab a stage win at this Giro, the break were only allowed a very short leash, enjoying a maximum advantage of just two minutes.

That was never going to be enough for them even survive close to the finish, and as the sprinters' teams started to get organised the break was caught with 22km remaining.

From there the race remained very controlled as no team came to the front to raise the pace, the bunch spread right across the wide road into Tortona as they rode into a headwind.

>>> Geraint Thomas abandons 2017 Giro d'Italia

Finally, with five kilometres remaining, the Bora-Hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floors trains began to form on the left of the peloton and the speed began to increase.

As was the case on stage 12, Bora-Hansgrohe had their entire team on the front in support of Sam Bennett, having a drag race with Quick-Step on the opposite side of the road.

But under the flamme rouge and Bora continued to control the front of the group, with Gaviria detached from the back of the Quick-Step lead-out train.

All looked set for Bennett to finally take his first win of the race, and he was put in a perfect position with 200m to go, but there was nothing to be done about the brilliant Gaviria, who seemed to have an extra gear compared to the rest of the sprinters, comfortably winning the stage.

Results

Giro d'Italia, stage 13: Reggio Emilia to Tortona (167km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-47-45

2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe

3. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

4. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

5. Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data

6. Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe

7. Sacha Modolo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

8. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott

9. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal

10. Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin, all at same time

General classification after stage 13

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb

2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at 2-23

3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 2-38

4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ, at 2-40

5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 2-47

6. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team, at 3-05

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors, at 3-56

8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale, at 3-59

9. Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team, at 3-59

10. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin, at 4-17

Others

12. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo, at 6-07

15. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott, at 6-56

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step) floors confirmed his sprint dominance at the 2017 Giro d'Italia with victory on stage 12 of the race.

Gaviria sprinted with ease to his third stage win ahead of Jakub Marezko (Wilier-Triestina) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) to the line at the finish of the Giro d'Italia's longest stage.

>>> Can Tom Dumoulin win the 2017 Giro d’Italia?

The lead into the finish was a fast one, with Bora doing much of the work as they tried to lead out Bennett so he could add a victory to the two third places he's already notched up at this Giro.

But Quick-Step were always a presence as they tried to setup Gaviria for his third win in his debut Grand Tour.

Max Richeze was the last rider in front for Gaviria, who looked even more dominant than he has in his previous wins as he surged ahead of the other sprinters to victory.

André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) put in another disappointing performance despite his victory on stage two of the race, finishing eighth in the sprint despite a fine leadout from his Lotto teammates.

Likewise Caleb Ewan disappointed on one of the few remaining sprint stages, particularly after his Orica-Scott teammates did so much work to bring back the break and set things up. The young Australian finished outside of the top-10, 82nd on the stage.

The 229km stage, the longest of the Giro, didn't provide many surprises with it's flat profile.

Sergey Firsanov (Gazprom-RusVelo), Marco Marcato (UAE Team Emirates) and Mirco Maestri (Bardiani CSF) got away from the drop of the flag and took a maximum gap of 6-45 to form the day's main breakaway.

They still had 53 seconds by 20km to go after a fine effort over 200km, with Maestri then going solo with around 15km to go and bravely holding on until 7km remaining.

He was then absorbed by the peloton which was travelling at a very fast rate towards the finish, with Gaviria living up to his favourite tag as he took a third victory at this year's Giro and cemented his lead in the points jersey.

There was no change in the overall standings as Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) held on to his lead. Britain's Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) lost 31 seconds however, and looks likely to have an eye on stage wins rather than GC when the race hits the mountains.

The 10tth Giro d'Italia continues on Friday with a very flat route from Reggio Emilia to Tortona over 167km.

Result

Giro d'Italia 2017 stage 12, Forli - Forli (229km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 5-18-55

2. Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina

3. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe

4. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb

5. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step Floors

6. Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data

7. Sacha Modolo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

8. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal

9. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

10. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, all same time

General classification after stage 12

1. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb, in 52-41-08

2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, at 2-23

3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 2-38

4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ, at 2-40

5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 2-47

6. Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team, at 3-05

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors, at 3-56

8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale, at 3-59

9. Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team, at 3-59

10. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin, at 4-17

Others

12. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo, at 6-07

14. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 6-46

16. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott, at 6-56

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) won stage five of the Giro d'Italia to take his second stage win of the race, as team-mate Bob Jungels safely retained the pink jersey.

The Colombian sprinter was positioned a long way back with a kilometre to go, but was brought back into a perfect position by a strong Quick-Step Floors lead-out effort.

With 300m to go on the flat finish in Messina, Gaviria was perfectly positioned on the wheel of Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and when Bennett opened his sprint, Gaviria was able to come round the outside, comfortably taking the stage win ahead of Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) who edged out Bennett for second.

That result, together with his efforts to pick up points at the stage's two intermediate sprints, were also enough to move Gaviria into the purple points jersey, while team-mate Bob Jungels finished safely in the bunch to stay in pink.

How it happened

Stage five of the 2017 Giro d'Italia saw the riders faced with 159km from Pedara to Messina, with two riders, Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) and Evgeny Shalunov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) going clear from the gun.

Quick-Step Floors, looking after the pink jersey of Bob Jungels, showed little interest in chasing, allowing the duo out front to establish a lead of 3-30 which remained steady for much of the day.

The only classified climb of the day came after just 38km into the stage, with Shalunov taking maximum points ahead of Paterski, while Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data) clipped off the front of the bunch to take the one remaining point to marginally tighten his grip on the blue jersey.

It was a similar pattern at the first of the day's two intermediate sprints, where Paterski rolled across the line at the head of the break, while Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) jumped out of the bunch to pick up eight points to narrow André Greipel's lead in the points classification.

>>> New footage shows Diego Rosa appearing to punch Javier Moreno at Giro d'Italia

This pattern was repeated a few kilometres later at the second intermediate sprint, with Paterski once again crossed the line first while Gaviria jumped out of the pack to take more points.

After a relatively easy day in the saddle, it took little time for the peloton to close in on the breakaway, bringing the gap below a minute for the first time with 20km to go as the sprinters' teams massed on the front.

The breakaway was caught just a few kilometres later, with Bora-Hansgrohe controlling the front of the bunch as the race entered Messina.

The GC contenders were also at the front trying to stay out of trouble, with Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) particularly prominent as he rode towards the stage finish in his home town.

Watch: Giro d'Italia preview - stages one to nine

With seven kilometres to go the pace really ramped up as a Luka Pibernik (Bahrain-Merida) accelerated hard out of a roundabout to open a small gap over the Katusha-Alpecin lead out train.

The Slovenian rider seemed to be putting a lot of effort with a lap still remaining of the 6.3km finish circuit, the reason for which became clear when he raised his arms in celebration as he crossed the line, mistakenly thinking that he'd won the stage.

The stage's comedy moment out of the way, Lotto-Soudal moved to the front of the bunch together with Quick-Step Floors, with the pink jersey being kept out of trouble on the technical circuit, and Gaviria also in a prime position.

>>> Nairo Quintana admits he's still searching for top form at Giro d'Italia

The two Belgian teams appeared to have the race under control, but faded as Bora-Hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates challenged their supremacy and leading into the final kilometre.

But it was Luka Mezgec (Orica-Scott) who strung the race out in the finishing straight, an effort that should have made it hard for any poorly positioned sprinters to come up the outside.

However after being caught out of position, Gaviria had his lead-out men to thank as they brought him down the outside of the pack, dropping him off in a perfect position on the wheel of Bora-Hansgrohe's Sam Bennett.

And as the Irishman opened his sprint, Gaviria just had too much, coming around the Irishman to win by a couple of bike lengths, holding off the charge of a rapidly approaching Jakub Mareczko.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2017, stage five: Pedara to Messina (159km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-40-11

2. Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina

3. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe

4. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal

5. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb

6. Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Dimension Data

7. Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data

8. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) UAE Team Emirates

9. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

10. Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Team LottoNl-Jumbo, all at same time

General classification after stage five

1. Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors, in 23-22-07

2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 6 secs

3. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott, at 10 secs

4. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida

6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team

7. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb

8. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo

9. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing

1.0 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar, all at same time

Quick-Step Floors lit up the third stage of the Giro d'Italia in a final 10km full of crosswinds to deliver Fernando Gaviria his debut Grand Tour victory and put the Colombian into the race leader's jersey.

The Belgian team's GC hope, Bob Jungels, was the main instigator along with Iljo Keisse in pulling six Quick-Step riders in total away from the main peloton as they hit the crosswinds on the Sardinia coast with 10km to go.

The stage had been building up slowly to the possibility of strong winds in the final, with the peloton compacted together just after 20km to go with strong headwinds.

As they turned to have the coast on their right hand side, things suddenly began to hot up, with Quick-Step pulling things apart.

Gaviria wasn't the only sprinter to make it into the front group, with Italian champion Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) in there and race leader André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) also there.

The group quickly gained 15 seconds on the main bunch, but Greipel had to avoid a collision with another rider and was forced to drop off, briefly joining Geraint Thomas (Sky) in pursuit of the front group before rejoining the peloton.

Meanwhile, Quick-Step were burning through their men to pull the gap to over 20 seconds, with Jungels forced to pull the last 2km by himself to ensure he could take as many seconds as possible.

As they made it within the final kilometre, Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) who had also made it across, tried a long range attack, pulling Gaviria with him.

Nizzolo then followed but got boxed out by Max Richeze (Quick-Step) and Haas, allowing Gaviria to sprint free to take his first Grand Tour victory in his debut ride at a three-week race.

There were no significant losses among the GC contenders. Geraint Thomas finished with his Sky teammate Landa, Adam Yates (Orica-Scott), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in a group that finished 13 seconds behind. Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing), who was looking to place highly in his first Grand Tour as a leader, dropped 5-22 after a crash in the final 10km.

How it happened

The day began much as the previous two stages had on the island of Sardinia; uneventful and with the peloton happy to let a few riders get up the road.

With the route to Cagliari a relatively short stage at 148km, the group of Jan Tratnik (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Ivan Rovny (Gazprom - Rusvelo), Eugert Zhupa (Wilier Triestina) were only allowed to gain just under three minutes advantage from the main bunch.

Tratnik was the last to be caught out of the trio, returning to the peloton with 26km remaining and the nervousness beginning to increase with the crosswinds in the back of everyone's minds.

Approaching the final 15km it was all bunched up as the headwinds held back any attacks, but it was clear what the plan from Quick-Step was as soon they hit the 10km to go section with the crosswinds.

That move setup Gaviria to take his biggest win to date, and puts Jungels in a strong position ahead of the first mountain test on Tuesday.

The peloton will take a rest tomorrow as the travel to Sicily from Sardinia, with the prospect of the category one finish to Mount Etna on Tuesday's 181km stage four.

Result

Giro d'Italia 2017 stage three, Tortoli - Cagliari (148k)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step, 3-26-33

2. Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe

3. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

4. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data

5. Maxmiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step

6 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Bahrain-Merida, at 3s

7 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors

8 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott, at 13s

9 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Team UAE Emirates

10 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal

General classification after stage three

1 Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 14-45-16

2 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal, at 9s

3 Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 13s

4 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors

5 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Bahrain-Merida

6 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott, at 17s

7 Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Team UAE Emirates

8 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data, at 23s

9 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Team LottoNl-Jumbo

10 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Team UAE Emirates

Bob Jungels says that Quick-Step's surprise full-force effort delivered the win for team-mate Fernando Gaviria in the Giro d'Italia's wind-ravaged stage three to Cagliari today.

Jungels’s charge drove clear a move with six other Quick-Step riders, minus only Eros Capecchi and Pieter Serry, at less than 10 kilometres to race.

Colombian Gaviria, 22-years-old and riding his first Grand Tour, finished off their work with a stage win and took the leader's pink jersey.

In Luxembourg’s national champion blue, white and red jersey, Jungles arrived to the Quick-Step team bus with a smile. The team greeted him with cheers and hugs.

"An attack like that is pretty hard to plan, we knew that we had cross-wind in that section and of course, we are known for these actions, but it was really an intention," Jungels said.

"I was a little far behind, just passed the bunch on the right side and the guys just followed me and it was full gas to the finish. And it could've have gone any better.

"We had [sports director Davide] Bramati in the radio the whole time to say pay attention. We knew there was something coming, and it was just an intention and we went full-gas."

The winning group finished 13 seconds ahead of the group behind led by Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott).

Sky's Geraint Thomas just missed the move with mostly power-men and sprinters. André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal), stage two winner and overnight leader, made the move but seemed to have touched wheels and lost his chain so he could not follow.

"Of course everyone was attentive. In situations like this I don't want to say we have more power, but we just surprised them. The first two or three seconds count when you put the power down and then we had the advantage," Jungles said.

"A big win? Of course, you can here it in the bus behind me. I'm really happy as well. We showed our spirit of the team and that's most important."

Bramati climbed out of the white and blue Quick-Step team car and yelled again, his voice hoarse from the excitement.

"The team won today, the team was so strong," Bramati said. "Bob above all and Fernando finished it. He'd just arrived from Colombia before the Giro and is still suffering. Even at one point, Fernando was pulling. I told him not to pull, save yourself.

"Jungels works for the team, this is his win, and all the team of youngsters. We have three riders in their first year doing their Giro – Gaviria, Martinelli and De Plus – so these are the right emotions."

Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) came away from the Giro d'Italia's stage two sprint in Tortolì "devastated" after a good position evaporated in the final run-in.

Ewan bumped with Colombian Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) on his right, causing his left foot to unclip immediately after. Instead of fighting for the win, he slipped back to finish ninth behind winner André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and one place behind Geraint Thomas (Team Sky).

"I think it was Fernando Gaviria who I bumped into. My foot came out of the pedal, and at that point in the race it's going to be pretty hard to get back into the sprint," he said. "I'm devastated to be honest."

At the bus, he looked down at his pedal to inspect a possible cause. He left it with the mechanic and climbed aboard to shower.

Yesterday, Austrian Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) slipped off the front and left the sprinters behind, leaving Ewan to settle for second place. Had he won today or placed highly, he may have taken the race leader's pink jersey.

"If I can take something out of the last couple of days it is that I have form and I know I can do it. I just was about to restart my sprint when it happened, so I'm pretty disappointed," he said.

"What was the cause? I'm not sure, to be honest. It all happened very quickly. One minute I'm sprinting in, the next minute I'm one-footed."

Team sports director, Matt White said, "It's a shame because he was in another good position and it's an opportunity lost."

Most, including White, predicted that the day's tough stage that would exclude many sprinters. The road topped at 1,000 metres and dropped to sea-level over the 20 kilometres to the finishing town on Sardinia's east coast. There was considerable doubt as to whether the Giro's pure-bred sprinters would make it over the summit with the peloton to be able to contest the finish.

Instead, riders chose to take it relatively easy, leaving the likes of Ewan, Greipel and Gaviria to eye a stage victory.

>>> Five things we learned from stage two of the Giro d'Italia

"It definitely was not easy. I think there is around three and a half thousand metres of climbing so it's almost like a mountain stage," Ewan added. "Luckily, we do not go to hard over the climbs and I could sprint."

"I was more surprised with how today's stage was raced, a lot of things happened and they didn't," White explained. "I know it's early in the tour, but I think we averaged 36kph [36.299] in a six-hour-plus day. It was a pretty cruisey day but it could've been a lot tougher."

Italians know San Remo for its casino and say that Milan-San Remo, the famous one-day race to the seaside town, is a lottery. Colombian Fernando Gaviria (Quick Step Floors), winner of today's Tirreno-Adriatico stage in Civitanova Marche ahead of Peter Sagan, disagrees.

Gaviria, in his debut last year at the age of just 21, already appeared able to win the Italian Monument, but crashed in the last 300 metre, of the 293km race, with Frenchman Arnaud Démare (FDJ) winning.

"Last year, I was much younger," Gaviria said after stage six of Tirreno-Adriatico.

"Every now and then, I thought, 'I can't do this. It's 300 kilometres.' That changed when I had a race number on my back. I was overcome by emotions.

"They say Milan-San Remo is a lottery, but if someone won it seven times then that's not true. You've got to be good, arrive well on the Poggio and not crash in the sprint."

Cycling great Eddy Merckx won Milan-San Remo on seven occasions in the 1960s and 1970s. German Erik Zabel won four times in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001.

>>> Is Fernando Gaviria cycling's next superstar?

Gariria, Sagan and others will race Milan-San Remo this coming Saturday, March 18.

Gaviria and his Quick-Step Floors team showed that racing is more pure chance today in Italy's Le Marche Region, playing out a clever tactical game to neutralise world champion and Milan-San Remo favourite Peter Sagan.

To draw him out it sent former Paris-Roubaix winner Niki Terpstra on the attack over the climb above Civitanova Marche.

Sagan reacted, and after Terpstra's group faded back into the chase group, he was faced with a sprint against Gaviria. The double effort, and perhaps the confidence from two previous stage wins, may have cost him.

"It was similar finish to Milan-San Remo, but the Poggio is after 280 kilometres and with much more energy involved. We tried to play an extra card with Niki's attack, it made Sagan waste too much energy," Gaviria said.

"To race against a strong rider like Sagan is truly hard. He's that strong that he could attack on the Poggio and arrive solo in San Remo."

Watch: 2017 WorldTour changes

Sagan blew away the Grand Tour contenders yesterday in an uphill finish to Fermo. It gave him his second win in the seven-day stage race that ends tomorrow with a time trial.

Afterwards, Italian television criticised his interview responses, which often come in short and sarcastic bursts. Rai Television commentator Silvio Martinello said, "Sagan needs to work on his post-race performance."

Sagan arrived to the mixed zone to speak with the press today, moments after losing to Gaviria, with the critics still on his mind.

"No stupid questions," he said.

A series of short answers followed the journalists' questions.

"You could see right that away you lost?" "Yes. I saw it."

"What was your take on the sprint?" "Nothing to say. Gaviria was stronger, that's it."

"Did you use too much energy chasing Terpstra?" "No."

"Now can we say that Gaviria is the favourite for Milan-San Remo?" "You can say what you want. In my opinion, there are many favourites. San Remo has always been strange and in the last five to six years, it seems as though someone different won who wasn't the favourite!"

>>> Scott Thwaites 'very likely' to debut in Milan-San Remo with Mark Cavendish

Gaviria, after beating Mark Cavendish twice in the 2015 Tour de San Luis in Argentina, debuted with Quick-Step late in 2015 and won a stage in the Tour of Britain.

In 2016, he crashed in the Milan-San Remo finale, but won races throughout the year. In French classic Paris-Tours, he sprinted long to win ahead of Démare.

"I've seen many good riders, but he is probably the best out of Boasson Hagen, Cav, Sagan..." Quick-Step Sports Director Brian Holm said when asked about the best neo-pro cyclists.

"With Milan-San Remo last year, he would've been quite close to that win if he didn't crash. In Paris-Tours, too, you don't see a sprint win like that too often. Just kicking off with with 500 or 600 metres to go. 'Wow,' I thought, 'he really has something extra!'"

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) edged out Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the final road stage of Tirreno-Adriatico 2017 in Civitanova Marche.

The Colombian sprinter remained calm as numerous attacks went off the front on the last climb of the day in the final 10km, but his Quick-Step Floors team did a good job of covering every move.

The most threatening attack came from Trek-Segafredo's Fabio Felline, who went clear with Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) opening a few seconds advantage on the descent towards the finish.

>>> Five things we learned from Paris-Nice 2017

However they were caught in the flat final three kilometres, with Lotto-Soudal having two riders on the front in the final kilometre in support of Jens Debusschere.

But Gaviria and Sagan were the two big names left in the front group, and it was Gaviria who opened the sprint, holding off a gaining Sagan to take his fourth win of the season.

As for the overall contenders, they all finished safely in the peloton, with no change to the GC lead of Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who retains a firm grip on the blue leader's jersey heading into the final stage.

How it happened

After a tough day in the saddle yesterday, the peloton put up little resistance as a eight-strong break went up the road almost immediately.

The break consisted of Ben Gastauer (Ag2r La Mondiale), Pavel Kochetkov (Katusha-Alpecin), Davide Ballerini and Raffaello Bonusi  (Androni-Giocattoli), Simone Andreetta and Mirco Maestri (Bardiani-CSF), Alan Marangoni (Nippo-Vini Fantini), and Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk).

However they were kept on a relatively close leash for most of the day, with the peloton's chase only interrupted when it had to stop at a level crossing for a number of minutes midway through the stage.

The gap steadily dropped to less than 30 seconds as the race approached the final 15km finishing circuit including a 3km climb, as Movistar controlled the front of the peloton.

Movistar were attempting to protect the overall lead of Quintana, so there was no need to react to an attack from Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida), who was more than five minutes down before the stage.

>>> Nibali admits Bahrain team making some mistakes as they find their feet in WorldTour racing

But with so few sprint stages in the race, the sprinters' team were keen to neutralise the attack, with Fernando Gaviria's Quick-Step Floors team-mate Bob Jungels locked on Nibali's wheel, before a counter-attack came from Fabio Felline.

Felline quickly caught the remnants of the break, with Niki Terpstra also bridging across.

The move look threatening, and prompted an attack off the front of the peloton from Peter Sagan, but the world champion was shadowed by a number of Quick-Step Floors riders to neutralise the move.

After a chaotic descent it was Orica-Scott, with only three riders remaining in the race, pulling the move back as the Australian team attempted to set it up for Luka Mezgec.

>>> Thibaut Pinot's Strava stats show just how tough yesterday's Tirreno stage was

Under the flamme rouge as Lotto-Soudal had three riders in front of Jens Debusschere, but with Sagan and Gaviria in close attendance Debusschere was always going to be up against it.

And it was Gaviria who hit the front first, edging out Sagan by half a wheel to prevent the Slovakian from taking his third win of the race.

Meanwhile race leader Nairo Quintana finished safely in the main peloton, meaning that he will take a surely unassailable lead of 50 seconds over Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) into Tuesday's 10km time trial.

Result

Tirreno-Adriatico 2017, stage six: Ascoli Piceno to Civitanova Marche (168km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors 4:09:31

2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe

3. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo

4. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quick-Step Floors

5. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal

6. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky

7. Scott Thwaites (GBr) Dimension Data

8. Eduard Grosu (Rom) Nippo - Vini Fantini

9. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ

10. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, all at same time

General classification after stage six

1. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team, in 1-44-28

2. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ, at 50secs

3. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team, at 1-06

4. Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team LottoNl-Jumbo, at 1-15

5. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 1-19

6. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 1-23

7. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac, at 1-30

8. Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar Team, at 1-32

9. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-37

10. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha-Alpecin, at 1-59

As a winner of 48 Grand Tour stages and a Monument, there can be few better faster landlords to look up to than Alessandro Petacchi.

The 2005 Milan-San Remo winner owns an apartment in Lido di Cameiore in Tuscany, Italy, and he has chosen to rent it out to one of cycling's brightest young sprinters: Fernando Gaviria.

The Quick-Step Floors rider, who already counts 13 professional wins to his name including two this year at the Vuelta a San Juan, is to move into Petacchi's apartment after the Volta ao Algarve - and the landlord is delighted that his new occupant is someone who he feels could emulate Peter Sagan.

"Fernando wants to base himself in Italy. I’m close friends with his Quick-Step Floors teammate Fabio Sabatini and he asked if my place was available," Petacchi told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I also spoke to Gaviria’s agent Giovanni Lombardi and it was all arranged quickly. I understand he wants to have his family there."

The reigning omnium world champion, Gaviria has been impressing for the past two years and his best win was arguably his victory in the Paris-Tours last year, when he attacked in the final kilometre, catching an unaware peloton off guard.

Petacchi is excited by the Colombian's talents, and believes he could dominate the Giro d'Italia's flat stages. But before that, the Milan-San Remo offers him the opportunity to win his first Monument - the race in which he crashed in last year.

"I think he’s the new Sagan, he’s phenomenal," he proclaimed. "I really like his natural talent, the way he moves in the peloton.

"I’m sure he’ll be a protagonist this year [in Milan-San Remo] and in the sprints at the Giro d’Italia. He’s a year older, he’s more confident in his ability and has the support of a really strong team.

"I’d picked him as my favourite last year because I’d see how well he was riding at Tirreno-Adriatico. With the finish back on the Via Roma, the rising road suited him perfectly.

“He closed a gap on his own in the last kilometre and so had the legs to win. I worked out why he crashed: he was on the right but wanted to be on the left to avoid being closed, and to use the width of the road for his sprint.

"When he moved, he touched Van Avermaet’s wheel. He cried afterwards because he knew he could have won it.”

Fernando Gaviria gave Quick-Step Floors their third stage victory in the 2017 Vuelta a San Juan on Thursday, cruising to win the bunch sprint on stage four.

The Colombian won the bunch sprint at the end of the rolling 160.5km route around San Martín, repeating his victory from the opening stage of the race.

And for the third time, Elia Viviani – riding for the Italian national team rather than Team Sky – placed second. Fellow Italian Nicola Ruffoni (Bardiani-CSF) was third.

Stage two winner Tom Boonen helped the Quick-Step Floors team reel back a dangerous 13-man escape group during the stage, with the catch made during the final kilometres to set up a mass sprint.

>>> Ramunas Navardauskus moves into overall lead at Vuelta a San Juan after time trial victory

Ramunas Navardauskus (Bahrain-Merida) retained the overall race lead after finishing in 10th place on the stage. The Lithuanian took the race lead after winning the previous day's key individual time trial.

Navardauskus sits three seconds ahead of Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), with Matthias Brändle (Trek-Segafredo) in third at seven seconds.

Viviani moves up from eighth to fifth overall thanks to his bonus seconds for placing second.

It's crunch time on Friday, as the riders face the race's climbing stage from Chimbas to Alto Colorado.

On paper, Mollema is the best placed of the GC men, particularly as pre-race favourite Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) lost crucial time during the TT and sits in 14th overall and 32 seconds adrift of Mollema.

The race concludes on Sunday, January 29.

Result

Vuelta a San Juan 2017, stage four: San Martín to San Martín, 160.5km

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-34-44

2. Elia Viviani (Ita) Italy

3. Niccola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF

4. Manuel Belletti (Ita) Wilier Triestina

5. Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare

6. Andrea Guardini (Ita) UAE Abu Dhabi

7. Carlos Alzate (Col) UnitedHealthcare

8. Marco Coledan (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

9. Laureano Rosas (Arg) Argentina

10. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Bahrain-Merida, all same time

General classification after stage four

1. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Bahrain-Merida, in 9-57-11

2. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 3 secs

3. Matthias Brändle (Aut) Trek-Segafredo, at 7 secs

4. Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Quick-Step Floors, at 7 secs

5. Elia Viviani (Ita) Italy, at 17 secs

6. Sebastian Trillini (Arg) Italomat-Dogo, at 19 secs

7. Oscar Sevilla (Esp) Medellin-Inder, at 19 secs

8. Laureano Rosas (Arg) Argentina, at 21 secs

9. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step Floors, at 29 secs

10. Ricardo Escuela (Arg) Agrupacion Virgen De Fatima, at 32 secs

Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) started this season as he finished the last, taking victory in the first stage of the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina.

The 22-year-old sprinter benefited from a superb lead-out by Belgian team-mates Pieter Serry and Tom Boonen, with Serry pulling a group of seven riders off the front of the peloton within the final 500m, before Boonen dropped Gaviria off with 150m to go in a perfect position.

Elia Viviani, riding for the Italian national team rather than Team Sky, was unable to come around the Colombian, with Nicolas Marini (Nippo-Vini Fantini) finishing third.

However, Gaviria's win was overshadowed by chaos in the pack behind, as half of the peloton took a wrong turn within the final kilometre, forcing many to run across grass and clamber over race barriers to finish the stage.

The race jury later ruled that all riders would be given the same time as Gaviria.

This is the highest profile race in South America, so it was no surprise to see the main break of the way filled with local riders.

The six man break consisted of Ruben Ramos (Agentina), Gaston Javier (Sep-San Juan), Omar Azzem (Los Cascos Esco-Agropla), Leonardo Rodriguez (Asociacion Civil Mardan), Eugenio Alafaci (Trek-Segafredo), and Franco Lopez (Agrupacion Virgen de Fatima), but they were only manage to establish a maximum advantage of one-and-a-half minutes during the 142.5km stage.

While the break was caught well before the end of the stage, it was at least a profitable day for López, who took both of the stage's intermediate sprints and both of the KOM points.

Results

Vuelta a San Juan 2017, stage one: San Juan - San Juan, (142.5km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (COL) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-07-44

2. Elia Viviani (ITA) Italy

3. Nicolas Marini (ITA) Nippo-Vini Fantini

4. Matteo Malucelli (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec

5. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Bahrain-Merida

6. Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick-Step Floors

7. Matthias Brändle (AUT) Trek-Segafredo

8. Alan Ramirez (ARG) Municipalidad de Rawson Somos Todos

9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo

10. Oscar Sevilla (ESP) Medellin-Inder, all same time

General classification after stage one

1. Fernando Gaviria (COL) Quick-Step Floors, in 3-07-44

2. Elia Viviani (ITA) Italy, at 4 secs

3. Franco Lopez (ARG) Agrupacion Virgen de Fatima, at 4 secs

4. Nicolas Marini (ITA) Nippo-Vini Fantini, at 6 secs

5. Iginio Lucero (ARG) Municipalidad de Rawson Somos Todos, at 8 secs

6. Leonardo Rodriguez (ARG) Asociacion Civil Marden, at 8 secs

7. Ruben Ramos (ARG) Argentina, 9 secs

8. Pedro Gonzalez (ARG), Equipo Continental Municipalidad de Pocito, at 9 secs

9. Matteo Malcelli (ITA), Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at 10 secs

10. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Bahrain-Merida, at 10 secs

Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-Quick Step) surprised everyone at the head of the peloton by launching his sprint well before anyone else and holding his speed to the line to win Paris-Tours at a canter.

The Colombian prodigy went on the right hand side of the road with about 600m to go while the rest of the lead sprinters were focussed on the left-side.

The race's other fast men tried their best to catch Gaviria, who will contest the World Championships road race next Sunday, but could only watch as he soloed over the line in Tours.

Organisers ASO attracted a stellar field by increasing the distance of the 2016 race and removing the flurry of hills in the final 20 kilometres to make it the perfect warm-up to the World Championships road race.

Plenty of big-name sprinters were present, including Gaviria, Mark Cavendish, Tom Boonen, Caleb Ewan and Arnaud Démare, all of whom will be in Doha next Sunday looking to win the rainbow stripes.

Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet, who will race for Belgium next week, put in an attack on the route's only real climb, but the flat parcours on the other side of the hill meant that his move was quickly brought back by the peloton chasing down the original breakaway.

Two riders did get out ahead in the final 15km, with Katusha's Sergey Lagutin and Giant-Alpecin's Bert de Backer trying their hand and hanging about 20m off the front of the peloton.

Cofidis were the ones working hard on the front for Nacer Bouhanni alongside Lotto-Soudal, who had several riders who could contest the final sprint. IAM Cycling and Team Sky were also busy heading into the final seven kilometres as the peloton brought back the two escapees.

French team Cofidis ceded control in the final 1,500m to Team Sky, with Geoffrey Soupe not noticing the blue and black jerseys pass him on the right. New Sky signing Owain Doull took to the front to lead Elia Viviani out in his first race for the British team.

The Olympic team pursuit champion ran out of puff in the home straight, though, and as Gaviria sped off the front of the pack on the other side of the road Viviani and the other sprinters found themselves on the back foot.

The Colombian's move took the rest of the peloton by surprise, with the Etixx man opening up a 20m gap in the home straight and carrying his power to the line to take his seventh win of the season.

Paris-Tours 2016 result (252km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx-Quick Step, 5-22-03

2. Arnaud Démare (Fra) FDJ

3. Jonas van Genechten (Bel) IAM Cycling

4. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx-Quick Step

5. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie

6. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data

7. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis

8. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal

9. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Orica-BikeExchange

10. Jempy Drucker (Lux) BMC, all same time

Maximiliano Richeze and Fernando Gaviria sealed a one-two for Etixx-Quick Step on stage four of the Tour de Suisse, finishing ahead of race leader Peter Sagan (Tinkoff)

A 90-degree corner in the final 200m caused a few problems in the bunch and Sagan's slight hesitancy saw him too far back to challenge the South Americans to the line.

The win is Richeze's first individual victory since the 2012 Tour of Japan, with the Argentine mostly working as a domestique in recent seasons.

The peloton judged the catch of the breakaway to perfection, reeling in the remaining riders just inside the four kilometre mark. Etixx-Quick Step and Orica-GreenEdge were pulling hard on the front for Gaviria and Magnus Cort Nielsen respectively.

Team Sky were also at the front for their sprinter Danny van Poppel, and race leader Peter Sagan had two teammates to help him in the final kilometres.

Sagan kept himself on Gaviria's wheel heading into the last kilometre. Van Poppel went into the final corner too hot and did well to keep himself upright as he removed one foot from the pedal and clipped the barrier.

>>> Watch: Danny Van Poppel’s amazing save as he slides across the road in Tour de Suisse (video)

Sagan, albeit in third wheel, was too far back heading round the final corner to be able to challenge the two Etixx-Quick Step riders on the finish line, with Gaviria easing up to allow his teammate the glory.

Sagan leads Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Soudal) by nine seconds in the general classification, with the race heading towards the mountains. Stage five sees a summit finish in Cari where the race favourites could come to the fore.

Tour de Suisse stage four, Rheinfelden - Champagne (193km)

1. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx-Quick Step, 5-08-21

2. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx-Quick Step, st

3. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff, st

4. Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) LottoNL-Jumbo, at 2s

5. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo, st

6. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-GreenEdge, st

7. Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot-Oranje Peloton, st

8. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Team Roth, st

9. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, st

10. Warren Barguil (Fra) Giant-Alpecin, st

Overall standings after stage three

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff, 9-14-13

2. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 9s

3. Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC, st

4. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx-Quick Step, at 17s

5. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, at 19s

6. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 20s

7. Gokra Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, at 23s

8. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo, st

9. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge, at 24s

10. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, at 25s

Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-QuickStep) took the first WorldTour win of his career on stage three of the 2016 Tirreno-Adriatico, out-pacing fellow young sprint talent Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) to the line in Montalto di Castro.

It was a tough finish for the sprinters on day three of the week-long race, with an uphill ramp averaging 3.5% coming with 350m to go.

>>> Alexey Lutsenko wins Paris-Nice stage five after 20km solo attack

But it wasn't enough to see any of the fast men dropped out the back of the main bunch, with the likes of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Elia Viviani (Team Sky), as well as Gaviria and Ewan, present in the finale.

It looked like the young Colombian Gaviria had gone too early as the bunch passed round the final left hand bend to the line, but he was able sustain his power as Australian rival Ewan made his move up the right in his low trademark style.

There was nothing he could do to overcome Gaviria though, as the Etixx man rolled across the line half a bike length ahead, with an even bigger gap on some more seasoned sprinters behind.

Gaviria's win is Belgian squad Etixx's 18th win of the season already, with Zdenek Stybar holding on to the blue leader's jersey after his win on Thursday's stage two.

The day's main break, which had initially included Giorgio Cecchinel (Androni), Simone Andreetta (Bardiani), Davide Villella (Cannondale), Domingos Gonçalves (Caja Rural) and Adrian Honkisz (CCC Sprandi), built up a maximum gap of around 4-30 on the peloton.

But the gap began to tumble in the final 50km, and as Andreetta dropped back to the bunch, the four remaining riders fought to hold on.

And it looked like they might do it as they held over 30 second with around 5km remaining, and were only caught as they hit the uphill drag at around 200m to go.

In the end it was a sprinter's day, and Gaviria took his chance to get a first WorldTour win.

Saturday's stage sees the peloton take on another tough day of 216km with a number of climbs close to the finish in Foligno.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2016, stage three: Castelnuovo Val di Cecina - Montalto di Castro (176km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx-QuickStep, in 4-17-28

2. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge

3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky

4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff

5. Leigh Howard (Aus) IAM

6. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo

7. Zico Waeytens (Bel) Giant-Alpecin

8. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida

9. Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo

10. Niklas Arndt (Ger) Giant-Alpecin, all same time

Overall classification after stage three

1. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing at 9 secs

3. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 9 secs

4. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing at 9 secs

5. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing at 9 secs

6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs

7. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-QuickStep at 11 secs

8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff at 14 secs

9. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ at 18 secs

10. Sebastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ at 18 secs

Mark Cavendish will go head-to-head with Fernando Gaviria (Etixx-Quick Step) for the first time since joining Dimension Data at Tirreno-Adriatico, strating on March 9.

The pair first came to each other's attention at the 2015 Tour de San Luis when Gaviria trumped his future teammate twice in two stages. The pair then rode together at Etixx at the Tour of Britain, where Gaviria won a stage, before Cavendish departed for his new team.

The Manxman goes into his first WorldTour race of the season in good condition, having won the Tour of Qatar overall classification, while Gaviria won a stage at the Tour of Provence earlier in February.

Peter Sagan and Caleb Ewan add to the sprinting firepower in the Italian race, but there will also be a fascinating tussle for the general classification, with Vincenzo Nibali coming up against Alejandro Valverde.

Valverde is set to ride his first ever Tirreno-Adriatico as a build up to his first ever Giro d'Italia in May, while Joaquim Rodriguez, Tejay van Garderen, Domenico Pozzovivo and Dan Martin will also be present.

Mikel Landa will lead Team Sky and will likely ride alongside Michal Kwiatkowski, Wout Poels and Leopold Konig.

Giant-Alpecin's Warren Barguil is also scheduled to make his first appearance of the season if his recovery from a broken wrist - suffered in a collision with a car on a training camp - has gone well.

Fernando Gaviria, the young sprinter who burst onto the scene at last year's Tour de San Luis, has been forced to abandon this year's race.

The Etixx-Quick Step sprinter went down in a crash with 25km to go on stage five and x-rays revealed a fracture to the radius bone in his left arm.

>>> Tour de San Luis: German Tivani wins stage five as big crash hampers peloton

Three other Etixx riders went down in the same pile-up, meaning four of the squad's six riders were involved in the incident.

Among the other fallers from the Belgian team was Rodrigo Contreras, another young Colombian rider and at the time the leader of the young rider classification.

He suffered a cut to his right knee that required 15 stitches and as such was also forced to withdraw ahead of stage six.

Maximiliano Richeze and Stijn Vandenbergh were the other two Etixx riders to require medical attention as a result of the crash, but the team says that both are presently planning to continue with the race.

An update on the condition and recovery of Contreras and Gaviria will be released by their team in the next few days.

No South American has ever won Paris-Roubaix, but Etixx-Quick Step's Fernando Gaviria may have designs on being the first.

The Colombian sprinter is embarking on his first full season in the WorldTour, where he can race in the events he grew up watching on television.

While the track World Championships in London this March may mean his cobbled Classics debut will have to wait for another year, Gaviria says he has always had a harboured a desire to race Paris-Roubaix.

"Etixx-Quick Step put a contract on the table after [the 2015] San Luis and I couldn't say no to this chance, especially as I'm fascinated not only by sprints, but also by the cobbles, and Etixx – Quick-Step is the best team in the world when it comes to these one-day races," Gaviria wrote on a blog on the Etixx-Quick Step website.

"Paris-Roubaix is my favourite Classic, I watched it on TV on numerous occasions and seeing how riders are capable of overcoming all the obstacles and the suffering for six or seven hours was really inspiring. Hopefully, one day I will ride there and test myself."

Gaviria made his name at the 2015 Tour de San Luis, beating Mark Cavendish twice in the opening three stages. The Colombian would then go on to ride with Cavendish for Etixx at the Tour of Britain.

He's already notched up his first win of 2016, taking stage one in San Luis ahead of Peter Sagan, and says that joining Etixx will give him the chance to develop as a rider on the road and track.

"In December I got to attend my first training camp with Etixx–Quick Step and realised immediately that this is more than a team, is a family," he said.

"All the riders gave me a warm welcome and I had the opportunity to finally meet Tom Boonen, a real legend, who inspired me since many years ago.

"In Denia, together with the staff, I laid out my schedule for 2016: as it goes, after the Tour de San Luis, I will return to Europe for two French stage races, Tour du Haut Var and Tour de Provence.

"Afterwards, I will commit to the track, hoping for a good performance at the World Championships in London. This year I will mix road with track, but I can't say I have any particular goals.

"I just want to develop, to become more professional and to stick to my philosophy, which is to make the most out of every opportunity and to enjoy each day, taking one thing at a time."

It feels like a long time since Peter Sagan finished second in a race, but in reality it was only two race days ago. Fast forward to January and the world champion has that familiar feeling once again at the Tour de San Luis.

The Tinkoff man was the runner-up on 18 occasions in 2015, including five times at the Tour de France, and found himself playing the bridesmaid to Fernando Gaviria on Tuesday's stage two in Argentina.

For Gaviria it was also a familiar feeling, having won the first sprint stage of last year's Tour de San Luis ahead of Mark Cavendish. Now he can add another major scalp to his list.

With a strong leadout by race leader Maximiliano Ariel Richeze, Gaviria shot past his rivals to reach the line first, giving Etixx-Quick Step their second win in as many stages.

Team Sky's Elia Viviani, riding for an Italian national team, sprinted to third place behind Sagan.

Colombian Fernando Gaviria gave Etixx-QuickStep its second victory in two days at the Tour de San Luis, convincingly winning the bunch sprint at the end of stage two in Villa Mercedes on Tuesday.

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) placed second, with Elia Viviani (Italy) in third.

Last year's Tour de San Luis acted as a breakthrough event for Gaviria as he memorably took two stage victories ahead of Mark Cavendish, leading him to be signed by Etixx a month later.

After Monday's team time trial win for Etixx, 21-year-old Gaviria takes the overall race lead from team-mate Maximiliano Richeze, who slips to second place at 10 seconds.

>>> Peter Sagan must have forgotten his razor as he sports hairy legs in San Luis time trial

The day's escape group consisted of Juan Curuchet (Argentina), Ariel Sivori (Los Matanceros), Emiliano Ibarra (Sindicato de Empleados Publicos de San Juan), Israel Nuño (Inteja-MMR Dominican Cycling Team), Genki Yamamoto (Nippo-Vini Fantini) and Caio Godoy Ormenese (Brazil).

Sivori led the action into the summit of the day's only climb after 18km, cresting it first to claim the King of the Mountains points and the KOM jersey. Curuchet subsequently took the following intermediate sprint points at Fraga and Villa Mercedes at the half-way point.

The break worked well together, building up a lead of over five minutes by the 100km-to-go point. Despite the attentions of Etixx-QuickStep at the head of the peloton behind, the gap slowly increased to six minutes with 30km to go.

As the escape group dwindled to just Godoy, Sivori and Yamamoto, their advantage tumbled to 2-30 as the lead trio hit the 10km-to-go marker. The effort was starting to show as the three riders rocked in their saddles through the streets of Villa Mercedes, and they were caught in the final kilometre.

Gaviria opened up his sprint early in the straight run-in to the finish, but instead of being chased down, he simply opened up more fresh air between himself and his rivals to freewheel over the line with his arms aloft.

>>> Etixx-QuickStep win Tour de San Luis opening team time trial

The 2016 Tour de San Luis continues on Wednesday with stage three from Potrero de Los Funes to La Punta. A relatively short distance of 131km and a flat profile suggest another bunch sprint finish, and another opportunity for Gaviria. The race concludes on Sunday, January 24.

Results

Tour de San Luis 2016, stage two: San Luis to Villa Mercedes, 182km

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff

3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Italy

4. Eduard Grosu (Rom) Nippo-Vini Fantini

5. Lucas Haedo (Arg) Jamis all same time

Overall classification after stage two

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx-QuickStep

2. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx-QuickStep at 10 secs

3. Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Etixx-QuickStep at 10 secs

4. Dayer Quintana (Col) Movistar at 18 secs

5. Adriano Malori (Ita) Movistar at 18 secs

Colombian sprinting prodigy Fernando Gaviria will return to the race which saw him emerge from nowhere in 2015, leading Etixx - Quick-Step at this year's edition of the Tour de San Luis.

>>> Tour de San Luis 2016 preview

Gaviria, who took two stages last year in the Argentinian stage race, beating seasoned sprinters like Mark Cavendish, will be looking to add to his stage win tally in his first season as a fully fledged professional rider.

The 21-year-old was immediately signed by Belgian WorldTour team Etixx after his performance at the race last year, and later raced alongside Cavendish at the Tour of Britain, taking victory on stage four into Blyth.

Gaviria will co-lead the team at San Luis alongside climber Rodrigo Contreras, his fellow Colombian who was also signed as a stagiaire by Etixx last year.

Davide Bramati, who will direct the team at the nine-day stage race, says the team are confident in Gaviria's chances in taking a stage victory in the early season race.

“Our goal is to take a stage victory and we are confident that Fernando can do it," Bramati said.

"On the flat, he will rely on a strong team, which includes Richeze, Vandenbergh, Sabatini and Wisniowski, all strong cyclists, ready to work for the team.

"For the mountains, we count on Rodrigo, but without putting any pressure on him. We want to take it day by day, see how he feels, and if the signs are good, then maybe he’ll try to do a good GC.”

Although Gaviria will begin his year on the road, much of his focus will be on the Rio Olympics in August, where he'll potentially come up against Cavendish again, this time on the track as he looks to add a gold medal to his 2015 World Championship win in the Omnium.

Etixx – Quick-Step for the Tour de San Luis (18-24 January):

Rodrigo Contreras

Fernando Gaviria

Maximiliano Richeze

Fabio Sabatini

Stijn Vandenbergh

Lukasz Wisniowski

Etixx - Quick-Step stagiaire Fernando Gaviria took his first win for the Belgian team on stage four of the Tour of Britain, as he impressively sprinted ahead of in-form André Griepel (Lotto-Soudal) and Tour de France stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka).

Not only did the Colombian beat the two sprint veterans, he came from behind as Gerald Ciolek set a blistering pace for his teammate Boasson Hagen and Greipel began to wind things up after his teammate Jens Debusschere lost the wheel.

Team Sky had been the most active on the front of the bunch as the peloton rolled into Blyth, with British champion Peter Kennaugh putting in a huge turn on the front that saw the peloton stretched out in single file as he tried to set things up for stage three winner Elia Viviani.

Lotto-Soudal then moved into action, looking as though they were trying to give Debusschere a second shot at a stage win after coming up short on Tuesday, but it was Greipel who sprung into action as he found himself dropped near the front in the final straight.

Watch: Why pro riders love the Tour of Britain

But no-one could match the pace of the 21-year-old Gaviria, who didn't seem to benefit from a textbook leadout with his teammate Mark Cavendish seemingly boxed in by other riders further back in the main bunch.

It's Gaviria's first win at this level in his trainee season before he become a fully fledged professional with Etixx in 2016.

Earlier in the day a six-man break had got away, with Alan Marangoni (Cannondale-Garmin), Matteo Trentin (Etixx - Quick-Step), Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing), Michael Svendgaard (Cult Energy), Rob Partridge (NTFO Pro Cycling) and Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (MTN-Qhubeka) building a maximum gap of around four minutes on the 217.4km course from Edinburgh.

Trentin, Wyss and Marangoni went clear from their breakaway companions with 40km remaining, but as they entered the final 20km with 38 seconds in hand, it became clear they wouldn't hold the chasing bunch off to the finish and the catch was finally made with 16.3km to go.

It then came down to a third sprint in four stages at this edition of the Tour of Britain as Juan José Lobato (Movistar) held onto his overall lead, but it certainly won't on Thursday's stage five as the peloton take on a 166.4km course from Prudhoe that finishes on the summit of Hartside Fell.

Results
Tour of Britain 2015, stage four: Edinburgh to Blyth (217.6km)

1. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step, in 5-13-08

2. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN-Qhubeka

4. Owain Doull (GBr) Team Wiggins

5. Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal

6. Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) IAM Cycling

7. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky

8. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka

9. Gloris Gerta (Ned) BMC

10. Graham Briggs (GBr) JLT-Condor, all same time

Overall classification after stage four

1. Juan José Lobato (Esp) Movistar, in 15-37-04

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN-Qhubeka, at 06 secs

3. Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC, at 12 secs

4. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, at 13 secs

5. Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin, st

6. Owain Doull (GBr) Team Wiggins, at 14 secs

7. Graham Briggs (GBr) JLT-Condor, st

8. Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Cult Energy, st

9. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx – Quick-Step, st

10. Serge Pauwels (Bel) MTN-Qhubeka, at 20 seconds