Wout Poels takes overall lead with stage four win at Tirreno-Adriatico

The Dutchman attacked at the summit of the final climb and managed to open a 20-second advantage on the subsequent descent.

The Dutchman eventually finished 14 seconds clear of a cluster of riders that included his closest rival Rigoberto Uran, who is now 17 seconds adrift in the general classification.

Overnight leader Greg Van Avermaet finished two minutes and 11 seconds behind to push him out of overall contention.

“It was the perfect timing,” Poels said.

“I was looking towards the bigger riders like Contador and Nibali but I had some good legs so I thought that I would attack at the top of the climb and then you only have to do the downhill so it worked pretty good.”

1 Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky 5:53:38

2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:14

3 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha

4 Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale

5 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale

6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo

7 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha

8 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team

9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Soudal

10 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdge

1 Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky 14:28:18

2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:17

3 Stephen Cummings (GBr) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:26

4 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr

5 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:27

6 Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:28

7 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory Racing

8 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:30

9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:31

10 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:32