Gianni Moscon`s run of form since returning from suspension made him a resounding favourite for the Tour of Guangxi and the Team Sky rider lived up to his billing, soloing to victory on the uphill finish at Nongla on stage 4. Moscon was ejected from the Tour de France after television footage showed him aiming a punch at Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Oscaro) in the opening kilometres of stage 15. The Italian rider was later suspended for five weeks by the UCI but he returned in empathic fashion when he won the Coppa Agostoni and Giro della Toscana last month, before going on to place fifth at the World Championships in Innsbruck. `Winning is always beautiful. It´s a nice way to finish the season, I didn´t come to China for nothing,` Moscon said after also pulling on the red jersey of race leader and setting up overall victory in the final WorldTour races of the season.ADVERTISEMENT Team Sky were among the most active teams in controlling the peloton on the fast approach to the short final climb, as low cloud swept in over the karst outcrops that dot the hinterland of Mashan County. The rapid pace continued on the lower slopes of the ascent but Moscon had the strength to punch his way clear and distance his rivals on the final steep ramps of the ascent. He finished five seconds clear of Felix Großschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe) and eight ahead of Sergei Chernetckii (Astana). `We were full gas when I saw that the other riders were very tired, I said, `Now is the moment,´` Moscon explained. `I didn´t think a lot about this, it was just a feeling. And I attacked. Straightaway I took some gap and I pushed until the end.` A year ago, Tim Wellens´ victory at Nongla was a down payment on final overall victory, and with two relatively straightforward stages to come, Moscon looks set to finish his season with the first WorldTour stage race win of his career. He carries a lead of nine seconds over Großschartner into the final two days. Suspension and reaction
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