Dennis on top in Italy
AUSTRALIA’S Rohan Dennis yesterday retained the overall lead with a one-second advantage over Dutch defending champion Tom Dumoulin after stage four of the Giro d’Italia.
After three opening days in Israel and a rest day, the Giro finally reached Italian soil, with Belgian Tim Wellens living up to expectations when he won the 202km treacherous ride from Catania to Caltagirone in Sicily with a steep finish.
But Dennis (BMC) managed to stay close to the leaders to ensure he kept hold of the pink jersey.
“Of course I want to stay in the front,” he said.
“It’s great to keep the jersey for a little bit longer, the team did everything possible to put me in that position.
“It was a little bit stressed, but not so much.”
English champion Chris Froome, trying to win his third straight Grand Tour, is 20th.