UAE Team Emirates’ Diego Ulissi finished just shy of his third podium place at GP Lugano in Switzerland on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Italian, who finished third and second in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the race, could only settle for fourth following a 185.6km ride around the south Switzerland town.

Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain-Merida) barrelled over the finish in triumph ahead of Kristian Sbaragli (Italy) and Enrico Gasparotto (Bahrain-Merida).

Ulissi arrived to the line 1 min 40 seconds behind the winner.

He said: “I did everything possible to take on the numerical advantage of Team Bahrain-Merida. Pernsteiner made a good move and proved to have strong legs to win the race. He looked unstoppable out there.

“I felt brilliant around the course, and that’s over a course that had 4000 metres of climbing. I’m happy with this result, although a place on the podium would have been favourable.”

Best for UAE Team Emirates were Filippo Ganna (28th), while Simone Consonni, Anass Ait El Abdia, Aleksandr Riabushenko, Jan Polanc and Ben Swift failed to set a time.