Italy’s Enrico Battaglin, of the Lotto NL team, won the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday after a 153km race from Agrigento to Santa Ninfa in Sicily.

Australia’s Rohan Dennis (BMC) retained the overall leader’s pink jersey on the second of three days on the Mediterranean island and on the eve of a tough sixth stage on the slopes of Mount Etna.

Battaglin dominated a sprint finish with compatriot Giovanni Visconti and Portugal’s Jose Goncalves, who finished second and third respectively.

It was the third Giro stage win for 28-year-old Battaglin, a specialist on uphill finishes, after 2013 and 2014.