ITALIAN Edoardo Zardini revealed that the mountains of Verona helped prepare him for The Tumble near Abergavenny as he took the Tour of Britain race lead with victory in the blazing Monmouthshire sun.

The 24-year-old Bardiani Valvole rider survived a late fightback from Irishman Nicholas Roche to power his way to an emphatic nine-second win at the race’s only summit finish – a 6km 10 per cent gradient battle to the line.

After racing 179.9km from Newtown, Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski was second ahead of Roche with Sir Bradley Wiggins crossing the line in fifth.

Zardini’s overall lead in the race is 13 seconds after Mark Renshaw, the previous occupant of the yellow jersey, finished 72nd – almost seven minutes back.

And the delighted Italian paid his respects to The Tumble and the people of Monmouthshire after his magnificent win.

“I’m from Verona and there are climbs similar to this there that are over 6km and quite steady climbs but I know that this is an historic climb in Wales,” he said.

“It is lovely to come here; I really wanted to come to the Tour of Britain because of all the fantastic support from young and old and it was something that motivated me on the final climb.

“When Roche caught me I sat up a little bit and pretended that I wasn’t so good and then I made a second effort!”

The race continues with stage four from Worcester to Bristol tomorrow before finishing with a time trial and circuit race around London on Sunday.

“It is my second win of the year and I feel like I’ve gone to another level this year in my second year as a pro,” said Zardini, who hopes to keep hold of the yellow jersey.

“We have come here to make the overall classification so I will try to hold on until London.

“It will be difficult; I will try to gain some time in the next few stages but normally I am not a time trial specialist.”

Team Sky star Wiggins remains within 24 seconds of the leader on general classification, while fellow Briton Mark McNally extended his lead in the King of the Mountain competition.

Wiggins admitted he hadn't heard of Zardini before and now says Pole Kwiatkowski is his main rival in the race, particularly given that both should ride well in Sunday’s 8.8-kilometre time trial.

“I didn’t even know who he was to be honest," said Wiggins of Zardini. "I think he surprised a few people today.

“The time gap’s not too bad [to Kwiatkowski] and it’s all to play for in London,” added the 2012 Tour de France winner.

“I’m in a good place. If it stays pretty close like this until London we will give ourselves a good chance. Eight kilometres doesn’t sound a lot but it’s like a pursuit and that will favour me more than other riders.

“Kwiatkowski is a good time trialist so it’s going to be tight. It’s doable, it’s not impossible. I think 11 seconds to Kwiatkowski is going to be touch and go. It just depends what kind of day he is on – I thought he would take more today.”

Mark Cavendish came home in 102nd place with Newport’s Jon Mould 60th and Risca’s Sam Harrison 114th.