Elia Viviani was denied a hat-trick of Tour of Britain stage wins after Fernando Gaviria sprinted to victory in Blyth.
Viviani once again benefitted from a strong lead out as the fourth stage reached a rip-roaring conclusion, but was unable to launch his trademark kick after getting boxed in on the closing straight.
The Italian - winner of stages one and three - battled all the way to the line but had to be content with seventh place as Gaviria took the spoils. Gaviria looked to have left it too late, but surged past Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN Qhubeka) in the last 100m to seal a hard-fought triumph.
Wout Poels was also present in a large front group at the finish which enabled him to defend his fourth place in the overall standings and move within 13 seconds of race leader Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar).
The 217.4km trek from Edinburgh had followed the tried and tested formula for a sprint stage with six riders escaping the clutches of the peloton after a rapid start to proceedings.
Matteo Trentin (Etixx - Quick-Step) was among them, and the fact he began the day in ninth position meant they were never going to be afforded much of a lead.
Movistar, Garmin-Cannondale and Lotto Soudal all helped control as the race passed back into England, and their lead plummeted when Ian Stannard, Peter Kennaugh and the rest of Team Sky moved to the head of affairs.
Sensing their days were numbered, the break split in two before they were all brought back to heal in the last 17km.
By then Team Sky's lead-out train was in full flow, with Stannard and Kennaugh continuing to take long turns on the front as they entered the destination town. Ben Swift then took over and delivered Viviani into a plum position, but Viviani was forced to round several riders before he had a clear run to the line.
That delay worked to Gaviria's advantage, and the young Colombian proved imperious as he claimed his fourth win of the season.
30.03: The Bueng Si Fai |
30.03: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain |
30.03: Volta Limburg Classic |
31.03: Ronde van Vlaanderen |
31.03: Ronde van Vlaanderen |
29.03 - 01.04: Ster van Zuid Limburg |
01.04: Gran Premio del Perdono |
01.04: Ronde de Mouscron |
01.04: Giro del Belvedere |
02.04: G.P. Palio del Recioto |
Matias FITZWATER 26 years | today |
Yuri BRIONI 23 years | today |
Hichem AMARI 29 years | today |
Frederik EINHAUS 26 years | today |
Jorn VAN DER VEKEN 42 years | today |
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