Giro d'Italia: Luca Paolini retains pink jersey as Bradley Wiggins slips off the pace

Bradley Wiggins is now sixth in the overall standings

Giro d'Italia (GETTY IMAGES)

Enrico Battaglin of Italy sprinted to victory on the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia today, while compatriot Luca Paolini retained the overall leader's pink jersey.

Battaglin, who rides for Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, won in a time of 6 hours, 14 minutes, 19 seconds along the hilly 246-kilometer (153-mile) route from Policastro Bussentino to Serra San Bruno.

The 23-year-old rider beat fellow Italians Fabio Felline and Giovanni Visconti in a bunch sprint on rainy, cobbled streets to claim his first Grand Tour stage victory.

Overall favorite Bradley Wiggins slipped to sixth in the general standings, 34 seconds behind Paolini. Main rival Vincenzo Nibali moved up to fourth, 31 seconds off the pink jersey.

Wednesday's fifth stage is a mainly flat, 199-kilometer (123.6-mile) leg from Cosenza to Matera.

More to follow...

Classification from Giro d'Italia after Stage 4...

1. Luca Paolini (Italy / Katusha) 15:18:51" 2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +17" 3. Benat Intxausti (Spain / Movistar) +26" 4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +31" 5. Ryder Hesjedal (Canada / Garmin) +34" 6. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Team Sky) 7. Giampaolo Caruso (Italy / Katusha) +36" 8. Sergio Henao (Colombia / Team Sky) +37" 9. Mauro Santambrogio (Italy / Vini Fantini) +39" 10. Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) +42"