Wout Poels soloed to his first Team Sky victory at Tirreno-Adriatico on Saturday but Nairo Quintana (Movistar) seized control of the blue jersey a day later on a snow-hit Queen Stage.

Poels attacked at the summit of the Crispiero climb on stage four and powered clear of an elite leading group which included the likes of Quintana, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep).

That saw Poels claim his first win since joining from QuickStep in the winter, and the Dutchman – benefiting from a free role after Chris Froome’s withdrawal on the eve of the race – could not hide his delight at victory.

“It’s awesome to take the victory on a stage like this, and against riders like that, as well as taking the jersey,” he told TeamSky.com.

“It was a really nice attack and a great way to take the victory. I’m really happy.”

However, Quintana hit back the next day, conquering the snow-hit summit finish on the Terminillo to fire an early warning shot to his Grand Tour rivals with a superb individual win.

It leaves the Colombian with a commanding overall lead of 39 seconds from Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing), with Contador more than a minute behind Quintana in fifth place.

Contador had lit up the ascent in fearsome conditions – a stark contrast to the sun which shone on the Guardiagrele ascent this time last year.

The defending champion’s repeated attacks failed to earn him any sort of distance, however, with everybody carefully marking the in-form Spaniard – including Team Sky in protection of Poels’ blue jersey.

The pace slowed at the front as a result and with five kilometres to go, Quintana seized his opportunity to burst clear with nobody able to respond to his move.

Mollema rolled in second, 39 seconds adrift of Quintana, while Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) led home the other GC contenders at 55 seconds adrift.

Contador and Uran were both in that group, as was Great Britain’s rising star Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEDGE) who continues to excel at WorldTour level.

For Yates, a top-ten finish to follow last year’s sixth place at the Criterium du Dauphine is within reach after proving he can climb with the best once again.

Fellow Brit Steve Cummings (MTN-Qhubeka) is also handily-placed overall, with his time trialling ability likely to seal a top-ten spot on the final day.

The blue jersey, however, is firmly in Quintana’s hands with the Colombian climbing ace needing only to stay safe on the flat stage six and then protect his lead in the concluding time trial.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2015: stage four – result

1) Wout Poels (NED) – Team Sky – 5.53.38hrs
2) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Etixx-QuickStep +14”
3) Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) – Katusha – ST
4) Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
5) Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
6) Roman Kreuziger (CZE) – Tinkoff-Saxo
7) Giampaolo Caruso (ITA) – Katusha
8) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar
9) Jurgen van den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto-Soudal
10) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-GreenEDGE

Tirreno-Adriatico 2015: stage five – result

1) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar – 5.26.03hrs
2) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek Factory Racing +41”
3) Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) – Katusha +55”
4) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Etixx-QuickStep – ST
5) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Tinkoff-Saxo
6) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ
7) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-GreenEDGE
8) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
9) Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL) – Lampre-Merida +1.05
10) Damiano Caruso (ITA) – BMC Racing +1.10

General classification

1) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar – 19.54.45hrs
2) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek Factory Racing +39”
3) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Etixx-QuickStep +48”
4) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ +57”
5) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Tinkoff-Saxo +1.03
6) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-GreenEDGE +1.04
7) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +1.06
8) Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) – Katusha +1.07
9) Steve Cummings (GBR) – MTN-Qhubeka +1.12
10) Wout Poels (NED) – Team Sky +1.13