Sergio Higuita saved by 3 kilometer rule at Tour de Pologne, retains yellow jersey after second crash

Sergio Higuita's first day in the yellow jersey at the Tour de Pologne was not ideal, but the Colombian will be starting stage five tomorrow still in the lead as the three kilometer rule kept his lead intact in Sanok.

Higuita had already crashed on the opening day towards the final kilometers but had his time cut to the same as the peloton due to the rule. On stage four, the exact same situation has happened. Higuita crossed the line some minutes after winner Pascal Ackermann with some bruises and with a visibly bloody knee, however he will be starting tomorrow's stage still in the lead and with real GC ambitions.

"A rider in front of me crashed and everyone had to brake quickly. I also had to brake in that moment and lost control of the bike, and I hit the deck," Higuita explained. "It's super bad luck, and it's never nice to crash, especially in the leader's jersey. But I was able to get back on the bike and finish the stage, and I'm still in the yellow jersey. Now I've just got to focus on recovery ahead of tomorrow's stage and see how it goes."

Although tomorrow's stage is not very selective it could see the GC riders go on the attack as the race can be decided in seconds, but most will be looking towards the time-trial on stage six to make the difference.