15 Apr 2023

Fisher-Black happy despite missing Tour of Sicily honours

9:00 am on 15 April 2023
Finn Fisher-Black

Finn Fisher-Black Photo: UAE Team Emirates

New Zealand's Finn Fisher-Black has won the best young rider jersey to mark a breakthrough week in the Tour of Sicily.

The 21-year-old from Nelson, who claimed his first professional victory when he won the opening stage on Wednesday, defended the leader's jersey over the following days with help from his UAE Team Emirates team.

However, he could only manage eighth in the mountainous 216km fourth and final stage to finish fourth overall.

Veteran Astana team climber Alexey Lutsenko of Kazakhstan broke away from an eight-strong pack - which included Fisher-Black - to sprint solo to the summit of Mount Etna and then remained clear on the descent to snatch the general classification honours.

Fisher-Black had the solace of being presented with the tour's white jersey for best young rider.

It kept a superb week, just two months after returning to his bike after breaking a leg during a tour in France in May last year.

"Overall it's been a great week," Fisher-Black said.

"Obviously it would have been nice to step on the final GC podium but if you had told me I'd be coming away with a stage and a white jersey at the start of the week I'd have been thrilled.

"It's a result that's given me a lot of confidence. The boys did a top job supporting me and we're really looking forward to the next goals ahead."

- RNZ