Finn Fisher-Black powers to shock win on stage 1 of the Giro di Sicilia

On a rise to the line at stage 1 of the Giro di Sicilia it was Finn Fisher-Black who proved the strongest and managed to power his way to victory ahead of Vincenzo Albanese and teammate Diego Ulissi in second and third respectively.

Stage 1 of the Giro di Sicilia was expected to be an interesting day, suited to the puncheurs but tough enough to open up the fight for the overall classification. Hoping to try their luck in the breakaway were Michael Belleri (Biesse - Carrera), Sebastian Schönberger (Human Powered Health), Niccolo Galli (Nazionale Italiana), Nicolas Milesi (Team Colpack Ballan), Umberto Poli (Team Novo Nordisk), Matteo Montefiori (Team Technipes) and Roland Thalmann (Tudor Pro Cycling Team).

With the lead groups advantage being cut to just under a minute as the race reached 25kms to go, the writing was on the wall for the breakaway and just before the start of the final climb, around 5km to go they were swept up by the bunch leaving the expected puncheurs battle to take place.

Team Jayco AlUla through the Ethiopian Tsgabu Grmay, took charge at the front of the peloton as they began to ascend the 3km climb to the finish line. With Mark Cavendish saving his legs for another stage and dropping out the back, Astana Qazaqstan Team's hopes lay with Alexey Lutsenko.

As the race reached the 1km to-go banner UAE Team Emirates rider Finn Fisher-Black rode clear at the front of the peloton. Initially going to the front as a pacesetter, the riders behind him just couldn't live with speed he was setting and as the gap grew the first win of Fisher-Black's career was assured.

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