(Reuters) – Frenchman Arnaud Demare edged out Peter Sagan in a bunch sprint to claim victory in the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, the final stage in Sicily.
The last 30 kilometres of the 140km stage were flat, offering opportunities for the top sprinters and it was Demare who powered across the line fractionally ahead of Sagan.
Sagan had to settle for second place again as he did on stage two. Italian Davide Ballerini was third.
Earlier in the day pre-race favourite Geraint Thomas abandoned the event after his crash in the neutral zone on Monday left him with a fractured pelvis.
Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-QuickStep) retained the pink jersey and actually opened up a two-second lead over Jonathan Caicedo, with whom he was tied before the stage.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
