The battle for 4th

__After four days, 1,000km of road and over 20,000 metres of climbing, Robbie Britton and Barry Scott can still be barely separated. __

Just 15km separates the two riders in the final run-in to the finish, with the two riders even finding themselves aboard the same ferry on the way to Messina.

Britton is currently holding onto a slender lead, having pulled away from Scott on the slopes leading upwards to Mt. Etna. At about 8:30 pm, local time, Britton had crested the peak and begun the long descent into Nicolosi (not, however, before putting on every piece of clothing he was carrying with him).

Barring any misfortune, Britton looks to have secured 4th place in this year’s race – but if this race has taught him anything, it’s that Scott will be chasing him hard all the way to the finish.

Behind them, the race’s leading pair of Michele Petrone and Sergio Punzi have also made the crossing into Sicily. With still 100km of hard climbing left for them tackle before the finish, the two have a long road ahead of them still - but they have, at least, the promise of the finisher’s party tomorrow night to buoy their spirits.