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Philippe Gilbert of Silence-Lotto won stage 20 of the Giro from Naples to Anagni after a decisive attack in the closing two kilometres.

The Belgian launched on the second ascent of the 3rd category climb into the medieval hilltop town to finish two seconds clear of France's Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues) and record his team's first scalp in the centenary edition of the race.

Italy's Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone) led the peloton home seven seconds in arrears, with pink jersey Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and rival Danilo Di Luca (LPR) crossing the line shoulder to shoulder ahead of Sunday's final time trial in Rome.

Menchov increased his slender lead over the Italian to 20 seconds after picking up two bonus seconds in an intermediate sprint earlier in the stage.

The 203-kilometre stage through the Ciociaria region in central Italy was played out under bright sun and 25-degree temperatures.

An early break of eight riders rifled off the front of the peloton moments after the race started in the picturesque Bay of Naples.

Despite holding a lead of more than three minutes as they passed through the town of Cassino, home of the FIAT car plant, the escapees were soon caught by the pack with about 60 kilometres left to race.

Menchov surprised the field with his uncharacteristic attack in pursuit of bonus seconds at the town of Frosinone, the Russian outwitting Di Luca before being pipped on the line by the Italian's team-mate and compatriot Alessandro Petacchi for maximum points.

But the two additional seconds gained by Menchov will make him confident of sealing his first career Giro win on Sunday after the closing 14.4-kilometre time trial in Rome - despite the rain that has been forecasted.

Menchov's pursuit of intermediate bonus seconds came after Di Luca claimed he would try and win the stage and take the 20 seconds on offer at the finish line in Anagni.

The finish - which consisted of two punchy circuits in and around Anagni, including two ascents of the tricky 3rd category climb - seemed perfectly suited to Di Luca's explosive attacking style, which been an abiding image of this year's event.

But Di Luca's final throw of the dice never materialised as three weeks of brutal attacks seemed to finally catch up with the 2007 winner.

Instead it was left to Gilbert to provide the fireworks at the finish. After a four-man breakaway tried their luck on the penultimate circuit in Anagni, the peloton came back together thanks to solid graft from the Belgian's Silence-Lotto team, eyeing their first major scalp this year after a testing season so far.

With just over a kilometre left to race, Gilbert spotted his opportunity and jumped clear of the pack with Astana's Yaroslav Popovych and Voeckler in pursuit.

The Ukrainian soon tired, leaving just Gilbert and Voeckler out in front. Both men had a maiden Grand Tour stage win in their sights, but Gilbert proved the stronger package, racing home with apparent ease to take the victory.

A splinter group containing American rider Lance Armstrong (Astana) and another 20-odd riders crossed the line 1:38 in arrears on a day which saw one withdrawal, that of Spain's David Lopez Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne) who crashed earlier in the stage.

Felix Lowe / Eurosport