When the road went up at the finish today, a different group of riders was to the fore. Sam Bennett has lost his race lead at the Tour of Turkey but this race is not over for him just yet.

Sam Bennett loses Tour of Turkey race lead

The dream run at the Tour of Turkey has come to an end for Sam Bennett on today's uphill stage 4 finish.

The Irish rider said long before the race even got underway four days ago that he would not be fighting for the general classification victory.

He explained the climbs were simply too big. And after three incredible wins on the trot, he was proven right today.

On today's stage 4, some 204.1km from Marmaris to Selcuk, the road simply got steeper all the way to the finish over the last 4km.

Indeed, the riders were fighting an incline and the furious pace of UAE Team Emirates, before the final climb even officially started.

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Diego Ulissi rides to victory in Stage 4 of the Tour of Turkey! ??

The Italian moves to the top of the GC! #TUR2017 pic.twitter.com/2k0Vk117SX

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) October 13, 2017

But once it did, Bennett moved to one side and rode his way up it; content to complete the stage and reserve his powder for the remaining two stages.

The peloton split to pieces on the final ascent. And in the end it was pre-stage favourite Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) who won the day. He also takes over from Bennett as race leader.

The Italian claimed victory on the summit finish by five seconds from Jesper Hansen (Astana). Daniel Martinez (Wilier Triestina) was third a further four seconds back.

Ulissi has the leader's jersey by five seconds from Hansen. And in 3rd place overall is Fausto Masnada (Androni-Giocattoli) at 24 seconds.

In the end Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) really took his time up the final climb. He finished second from last on the stage.

He was 14:59 down on the stage winner having ridden up the final climb with lead-out man Shane Archbold. Bennett is now 70th overall but still leads the points classification.

He has 45 points; four more than Edward Theuns of Trek-Segafredo. And Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates) is 3rd with 33 points with two stages remaining.