Kiwi cyclist Finn Fisher-Black has won the best young rider jersey to mark a breakthrough week at the Giro di Sicilia in Italy.
The 21-year-old from Nelson, who claimed his first professional victory when he won the opening of four stages, defended the leader’s jersey with the help of hisUAE Team Emirates riders for two days.
But despite a strong effort, he could only manage eighth in the final stage which included the brutal ascent and challenging descents of Mount Etna, with the climb of 17km at an average of 6.1 per cent gradient.
Outstanding climber Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) and Italy’s Damiano Caruso edged clear before the Kazakh rider broke away from the eight-strong pack to sprint solo to the summit and then remained clear on the descent to the finish.
Fisher-Black, with the experienced help of Rafal Majka, fought to keep the gap to the Kazakh in check but could not reduce the deficit, with UAE’s tactics called into question, having had four riders in a small group where their rivals had no more than two, but letting their main threats drift away on the descent.
Also questionable were the few seconds Fisher-Black was credited to have lost in the sprint finish, allowing Italian rider Vincenzo Albanese to beat him for third spot on the overall podium on a countback.
Fisher-Black crossed the line in eighth place, finishing fourth overall but claiming the tour’s white jersey for the best young rider, and with a milestone week to his credit after coming back from a broken femur.
“Overall it’s been a great week,” said Fisher-Black. “It would have been nice to step on the final GC podium but if you had told me I’d be coming away with a stage and a white jersey at the start of the week I’d have been thrilled.
