Sacha Modolo won stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday as race leader Alberto Contador was given some respite. Modolo (Lampre) won the 134-kilometre route from Tirano to Lugano in a sprint finish ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) in second and Luka Mezgec (Giant-Alpecin) in third.

The top of the general classification was unchanged, with Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) in possession of a lead of four minutes and two seconds over Mikel Landa (Astana) after finishing safely in the bunch in 23rd place on the stage. Fabio Aru (Astana) is third overall, 4mins 52secs adrift, ahead of Sunday's finish in Milan.

Modolo said after his second win of the Giro: “On paper, the stage looked easy, but in reality it was hard, with a real ramp at 4km to go.

“I looked around me on the ramp and I saw lots of potential sprinters in difficulty. Perhaps they were more tired than me. “I have one of the best lead-out trains going. I’m afraid of no one.”

Contador said: “In theory it was a transitional stage but it was hard. “The road went up and down and we were riding into a headwind for most of the day.

“I’m very happy because I got through the stage safely and arrived in Lugano, where I live, on my home roads. “I’m one day closer to Milan.”