The Dutch LottoNI-Jumbo rider nearly lost contact with the peloton in the mountains before bursting clear in the final sprint for the line.

He held off Colombia's Gaviria to win in 5 hours 04min 21sec at the end of the 212.2 kilometres stage from Liuzhou.

"On the final climb, Movistar was attacking with all its team," Groenewegen told Cycling News afterwards.

"The speed was a little too hard, but I had the whole team waiting for me and they brought me back to the first 30 riders and then I could do the sprint and I did it.

"In the last kilometre, we had a headwind so I was thinking about going a little later than normal. 

"With 150 metres to go, I went and it was enough. I can go into the winter with a good victory in China."

Quick-Step Floors' Gaviria, the winner of the first three stages, took second place as Denmark and Orica-Scott's Magnus Cort Nielsen took third.

All of the leading riders were awarded the same time.

Belgium's Tim Wellens retained his lead in the overall standings.

The Lotto-Soudal star now holds a six second lead over another Dutchman, Bauke Mollema of Trek Segagredo after his mountain victory yesterday.

He will now be confident of victory in tomorrow's finale.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche of BMC Racing Team lies third overall, 11 seconds behind the leader.