Italian rider Jonathan Milan sprints to victory on fourth stage of Giro d’Italia

Tadej Pogacar maintains his 46-second lead over Geraint Thomas at the top of the standings

Team Lidl-Trek's Italian rider Jonathan Milan celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia between Acqui Terme and Andora. Photograph: Luca Bettini/AFP via Getty Images
Team Lidl-Trek's Italian rider Jonathan Milan celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia between Acqui Terme and Andora. Photograph: Luca Bettini/AFP via Getty Images

Jonathan Milan won stage four of the Giro d’Italia, seeing off his fellow sprinters in Andora.

Milan took victory for Lidl-Trek, his fourth of the year, after leaving Kaden Groves and Phil Bauhaus behind.

Team-mate Simone Consonni gave Milan a big lead out and his finish on the inside was too strong for the majority of his rivals, with Groves and Bauhaus just about hanging on as Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij faded.

Ineos rider Filippo Ganna, an Olympic colleague of Milan in Italy’s team pursuit, made a bold move to take the honours as he attacked hard on the Capo Mele climb but he was unable to stay the course.

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“There are so many emotions now,” Milan said at the conclusion. “We came here with one goal for everyone. The guys did an amazing job. It’s an amazing sensation to win here again at the Giro.

“I really have to say thanks for all of this to my team-mates. They believed in this all day. We saw Ganna going full gas in the last climb and we caught him with 900 meters to go. He also helped us in a way, let’s say. Then Simo [Consonni] did a fantastic lead out and I just had to play my cards.”

There was no change in the overall standings, with Tadej Pogacar maintaining his 46-second lead over Geraint Thomas. The Giro continues on Wednesday as the race moves from Genoa to Lucca with a 178km fifth stage.