Etna finale: Polanc ends 6th overall

Jan Polanc (photo Bettini) missed the top five of the Giro di Sicilia overall by just 10″.
With 7th place in the final Mount Etna stage, the Slovenian rider climbed up one spot in the final rankings, settling definitively in 6th place at 1’34” from the triumphant Brandon McNulty (Rally UHC Cycling).

The last stage was won by Guillame Martin (Wanty-Gobert) over Fausto Masnada (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) thanks to an attack at just over a kilometre from the finish, when the group of the best climbers had already crumbled considerably down on the challenging ascent of Etna.
It was Martin himself who made the first selection at -7.7km with an acceleration, followed by Simone Petilli, with the latter unable to stay with the head of the race.
Jan Polanc managed himself carefully, setting a more regular and reasonable pace.

“The Etna climb is hard and very long, so it is very important to be able to measure your energy very well,” said Polanc, “For this reason, I did not respond to Martin’s attack at 7.7 kms out, I preferred to climb at my pace and this allowed me to get closer. I was only 10″ from the top five of the general classification, but I have no regrets because I gave my best“.

Stage 4 results
1 Guillame Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert 3h37’34”
2 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 10″
3 Dayer Quintana (Col) Neri Sottoli 13″
7 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates  42″

Final general classification
1 Brandon McNulty (USA) Rally UHC Cycling 18h07’24”
2 Guillame Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert 42″
3 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 56″
6 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 1h34″