Italy's Riccardo Ricco stormed to victory in the 207-km trans-Sicilian stage two of the Giro d'Italia.

The 25-year-old Saunier Duval rider broke clear of compatriots Danilo Di Luca and David Rebellin on the uphill finish at Agrigento after a wretched day for the American team Slipstream.

Slipstream, who had won Saturday's opening team time-trial in defiant fashion, finished the stage without their influential rider David Zabriskie, while Christian Vandevelde, the first American to lead the Giro since Andy Hampsten in 1988, lost the maglia rosa to Franco Pellizotti of Italy.

Zabriskie fell heavily in a crash 52 kilometres from the end of the undulating stage after a number of riders - including Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) - touched wheels with the gruppo in hot pursuit of two breakaway riders.

The American, who this year was sporting an uncharacteristic moustache, was taken to the hospital with what looked like a shoulder injury.

To make matters worse, Slipstream, despite indefatigable work by Swede Magnus Backstedt, lost their grip on the pink jersey after Liquigas's Pellizotti picked up vital bonus seconds for finishing the stage fourth.

Pellizotti now leads the race by a single second ahead of Monday's 221-km stage from Catania to Milazzo. Denmark's Chris Sorensen of CSC is third overall at seven seconds.

"Wearing the pink jersey means a lot to me because I've dreamed about it as a boy but my big goal is to win the Giro and wear the pink jersey in Milan on the last day," Pellizotti said.

Ricco's victory came after it looked all but certain to go to Joaquim Rodriquez of Caisse d'Epargne. The Spaniard broke clear of the leading group on the final ascent of the world championships course at Agrigento, only to be swept up by a select chasing group with just metres to spare.

The youthful exuberance of Ricco proved too strong for reigning champion Di Luca (LPR Brakes) and Gerolsteiner's Rebellin, with Pellizotto taking fourth and Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) fifth.

It was Ricco's second stage win in the three-week race, his first coming last year at Trois Cimes de Lavaredo on his way to finishing sixth overall.

Ricco has not disguised his intent to win the 2008 Giro and today's victory over Di Luca, Rebellin et al will throw down the gauntlet to his rivals.

"I felt good on the climb to the finish and so went for it," Ricco said.

"This win is a clear sign that my form is good. I suffered on the climb up to the finish but I think the riders behind me suffered even more. In cycling you have to win whenever you get the chance."

"Beating riders like Danilo Di Luca and Davide Rebellin is a good sign for later in the race. I'm only at 90% because I want to be at my best for the decisive final week in the mountains. My goal is to win the Giro."

CSF's Emanuele Sella secured the green mountains jersey after securing maximum points in the stage's early second category climb, 25-km from the start.

Two riders - Switzerland's David Loosli (Lampre) and France's Jeremy Roy (Francaise des Jeux) - managed to break clear following the climb, building up a lead of 10 minutes before being caught by the pack moments after Zabriskie's unfortunate fall.

Felix Lowe / Eurosport