Narvaez previously rode for Ineos Grenadiers
Ecuador's Jhonatan Narvaez won stage four of the Giro d'Italia. just three days after being involved in a major crash which resulted in three of his UAE Emirates-XRG team-mates being forced to abandon the race with serious injuries.
Narvaez, 29, comfortably out-sprinted Colombia's Orluis Aular of Movistar in the uphill finish in Cosenza in southern Italy.
Italy's Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek was third. claimed the overall leader's pink jersey after previous leader Guillermo Thomas Silva of Uruguay finished more the 12 minutes behind.
Britain's Ben Turner of Netcompay Ineos Cycling was fourth after helping team-mate Egan Bernal of Colombia recover from losing ground on the stage's category two climb.
The three-week race's first real climb saw the sprint specialists. heavier riders dropped from the peloton, which was 14.5km and had gradients of up to 11%.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG's young Swiss rider Jan Christen launched off the front of the peloton with just two kilometres remaining. forcing the peloton to chase him.
Narvaez was able to save energy as other teams were forced to work hard to reel his team-mate in,. he had more punch when it came to sprinting for the line.
UAE's legendary four-time Tour de France-winning team leader Tadej Pogacar is not at the Giro as he is preparing for the Tour in July,. the team lost three riders in Saturday's crash, including one of its biggest contenders for pink in Britain's Adam Yates, whose identical twin Simon won last year's edition of the race.
Yates, 33, left the race with concussion alongside Australia's Jay Vine, who was also concussed,. Spain's Marc Soler, who suffered a pelvic fracture, on stage two of the opening three stages in Bulgaria.
Narvaez was seriously injured in a crash at the Tour Down Under in Australia at the beginning of the season in January.
"It's really big for me, coming after my Australian injury," said Narvaez after the stage.
"This victory is for my team-mates after they crashed on stage two."
Hot favourite for the overall victory, two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, finished with the first group of riders. remains 11th overall, 10 seconds behind Ciccone.
Christen is second and Germany's Florian Stork of Tudor Pro Cycling third, both four seconds down.
Another Sunday In Hell: The brutal race that thwarts the greats
Narvaez was in bad condition following the major crash on stage two
Ciccone has won the Tour de France's leader's yellow jersey before, but not the Giro's pink
Bernal struggled on the climb but managed to make his way back to the peloton before the finish
Vingegaard is only 10 seconds off the overall lead
Another hilly test awaits the riders on Wednesday's 203km stage five to Potenza
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Giro d'Italia stage four results:
1. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 3hrs 8mins 46secs
2. Orluis Aular (Col/Movistar ) same time
3. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek)
4. Ben Turner (GB/Netcompany Ineos Cycling)
5. Alessandro Pinarello (Ita/NSN Cycling)
6. Afonso Eulalio (Por/Bahrain-Victorious)
7. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto-Intermarche)
8. Diego Ulissi (Ita/XDS-Astana)
9. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Ita/Soudal-Quick Step)
10. Michael Valgren (Den/EF Education-Easy Post)
Giro d'Italia general classification results after stage four:
1. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) 16hrs 18mins 51secs
2. Jan Christen (Swi/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4secs
3. Florian Stork (Ger/Tudor Pro Cycling) same time
4. Egan Bernal (Col/Netcompany Ineos)
5. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Netcompany Ineos) 6secs
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) same time
7. Lennert van Eetvelt (Bel/Lotto-Intermarche) 10secs
8. Enric Mas (Spa/Movistar) same time
9. Markel Beloki (Spa/EF Education-Easy Post)
10. Jan Hirt (Cze/NSN Cycling)
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