Jonathan Milan sprints to Giro d'Italia stage win as Tadej Pogacar stays in overall lead

Lidl-Trek's Italian rider Jonathan Milan went one better than his second-place finish on Monday by sprinting to victory on Stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia in front of ecstatic fans on his home turf.

Milan surged to the front close to the line and, despite the best efforts of Australia's Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), he held on to make up for missing out on winning Stage 3 when he was outsprinted by Tim Merlier.

Germany's Phil Bauhaus of Bahrain Victorious came in third on the 190km ride from Acqui Terme to Andora, which had seen a breakaway almost from the start, before the peloton brought them back to set up the expected sprint finish.

Race favourite and UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar kept tight hold of the overall leader's pink jersey and remains 46 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas of Ineos Grenadiers, with Colombia's Daniel Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) a further second back in third.

“I have so many emotions now,” said Milan, who secured his fourth win of this season and ninth of his career. “I said from the beginning we came here with one goal for everyone. So today the guys did an amazing job. It is such an amazing sensation to win again here in the Giro d'Italia.

“I really have to say thanks always to my teammates – they first believe in this day and then also it's pretty special because my parents they were here, so I'm really happy about it. It's just an amazing sensation.

“We saw Filippo Ganna going full gas in the last climb, we caught him with 900 metres to go. Yeah, he also helped us in a way, let's say. And then Simone Consonni did just a fantastic lead-out. And yeah, I just had to play my cards then.”