Giro d'Italia Stage 4: Davide Formolo wins thrilling stage to La Spezia, Simon Clarke takes lead

Davide Formolo of Garmin-Cannondale has won a thrilling Stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia in La Spezia on the race’s final full day in Liguria, which has hosted a spectacular Grande Partenza of the 98th edition of the race. Orica-GreenEdge retain the race leader’s maglia rosa, but it switches from Michael Matthews to Simon Clarke.

Formolo, aged 22, took what is his first professional win after a short but thrilling stage that will live long in the memory, characterised by attack and counter-attack as the composition of the front group changed throughout the 150 kilometre journey through the mountains above the coast.

Meanwhile, Astana, working for one of the pre-race favourites Fabio Aru, put the hammer down, the notable casualty being Etixx-Quick Step’s Rigoberto Uran. The former Giro runner-up lost contact with the favourites group on the final climb, crested around 10 kilometres from the finish, after being isolated from his team mates.

Alberto Contador of Tinkoff Saxo and Team Sky’s Richie Porte both managed to stay with the pace being set by Astana, coming across the line in a group of a dozen riders including Aru 22 seconds behind Formolo, who had got clear on that last ascent of the day.

The new race leader  was also in that group and took the sprint for second – although the Australian was unaware that Formolo had already sealed the stage win, celebrating as he crossed the line, only for Movistar’s Giovanni Visconti to point up the road to the Garmin-Cannondale rider.

Clarke said afterwards: "It's a pretty special moment. You could see the emotion on the line. I'm stoked to keep the Maglia Rosa in the team. I couldn't hold it back, keeping it at Orica GreenEdge. It has been an awesome start to the Giro for us.

"The plan yesterday was to ride for the sprint [won by Matthews], and I understood that, even if it was hard, knowing that I might lose my chance. But I bounced back today, and this jersey is the reward."

Reflecting on his stage win, Formolo said: "The final 500 metres were absolutely incredible. The noise of the crowd made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I only knew I'd won the stage 100 metres from the finish line. I wasn't thinking of the Maglia Rosa.

"I'm riding my first Giro d'italia, so I'm taking it day by day and there is no pressure on me. We're riding for [2012 winner Ryder] Hesjedal in the GC, so I don't know if I'll get another chance."