Young star Remco Evenepoel had to relinquish the overall lead three days after his opening victory in the 106th Giro d'Italia.
The Norwegian Andreas Leknessund took over the Belgian's pink jersey with a lead of 28 seconds. Frenchman Aurélien Paret-Peintre took the stage win on the 175-kilometre fourth stage ahead of Leknessund and Latvian Toms Skujins.
None of the German professional cyclists around Lennard Kämna and Pascal Ackermann finished among the fastest ten riders. Alexander Wlassow from the German team Bora-hansgrohe finished tenth. On the toughest stage to date between Venosa and Lago Laceno, a leading group of seven riders formed well before the finish, from which Leknessund and Paret-Peintre fought the final duel before the finish.
On Wednesday, the professional cyclists start in the Campania region on the fifth stage between Atripalda and Salerno. The Tour of Italy ends on 28 May with the final stage in the capital Rome.
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