Italy’s Moscon takes Guangxi lead after stage win

Shanghai (AFP) – Italy’s Gianni Moscon won the gruelling fourth stage of the Tour of Guangxi on Friday in China and with it took the overall lead.

In the general classification, the Team Sky rider leads by nine seconds with two stages left of the race, ahead of Austria’s Felix Grossschartner of the Bora–Hansgrohe team.

The 24-year-old Moscon hit out with a kilometre to go on the race’s only summit finish.

The fifth stage is a tough 212km with some long climbs.

The six-stage race in Guangxi, a region bordering on Vietnam, is the final stop on this year’s UCI World Tour.

Standings from the fourth stage of the Tour of Guangxi, a 152.2km ride from Nanning to Mashannongla:

1. Gianni Moscon (ITA/Team Sky) 152.2km in 3hr 38min 02sec

2. Felix Grossschartner (AUT/Bora-Hansgrohe) at 5sec

3. Sergei Chernetski (RUS/Astana) 8sec

4. Carlos Verona (ESP/Mitchelton-Scott) 11sec

5. Rigoberto Uran (COL/EF) 11sec

General classification

1. Gianni Moscon (ITA/Team Sky) 12hrs 2mins 29sec

2. Felix Grossschartner (AUT/Bora-Hansgrohe) at 9sec

3. Sergei Chernetski (RUS/Astana) 14sec

4. Remi Cavagna (FRA/Quick-Step) 17sec

5. Rigoberto Uran (COL/EF) 21 sec