PESCHICI (Italy), May 16: Italian Matteo Priamo, riding for the CSF team, broke away to win the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy here on Thursday.

Priamo’s compatriot Giovanni Visconti, who rides for Quick Step, took the leader’s pink jersey.

Priamo built up a decisive lead over the final run-in of the 232km stage from Potenza to Peschici after a breakaway of more than 160km.

Spaniard Alan Perez took the second place, eight seconds adrift of Priamo, as he struggled with the final climb to the finishing line.

The main peloton, which included overnight leader Franco Pellizotti, crossed the line more than 11 minutes off the pace.

The breakaway came at the 53km mark at the initiative of Estonian Rene Mandri, Germany’s Paul Martens and Perez.

Nine other riders, including Priamo, reeled in the trio, at one point building up a lead of almost 16 minutes over the main peloton.

Priamo, followed by Perez, attacked 12km from the finish and held his nerve to record the most important milestone of his professional cycling career which started in 2006.—AFP