Italy's Giovanni Visconti of the Quick Step team snatched the lead in the Giro d'Italia thanks to a late dash to the line and some hard work in the decisive attack of the stage.

Visconti started the 232-km stage one minute and 52 seconds behind compatriot Franco Pellizotti but was part of the breakaway group of 11 riders that finished 11 minutes ahead of the main peloton.

Germany's Matthias Russ was also in the group and was initially 13 seconds ahead of the Italian in the overall standings. However, Visconti gained six seconds in intermediate sprints and then made a late attack and finished seven seconds clear of the German rider.

Visconti and Russ are equal on time but Visconti pulled on the race leader's pink jersey thanks to better placings in previous stages of race.

Italy's Matteo Priamo of the CSF Group team won the stage. #

Spain's Alan Perez was second eight seconds behind and Russia's Nikolai Trussov third 27 seconds back.

Visconti finished eighth 40 seconds off the pace but did enough to take the overall lead.

"I really wanted the pink jersey, I went after the intermediate sprints and then gave it everything in the final few hundred metres to gain time on Russ," Visconti said.

"Wearing the pink jersey pays me back for all the sacrifices me and my family have made. I'm from Sicily and my dad had to drive for hundreds of kilometres to take me to races when I was young.

"I'm considered a talent for the future but it's never easy when everybody expects so much of you."

Visconti leads the big name favourites at the Giro by more than nine minutes but made it clear he does not think he can win the three-week race.

"I've no chance, me winning is total science fiction, but I do want to keep the jersey as long as possible," he said.

His first test will come on Friday's 180-km seventh stage from Vasto to Pescocostanzo. The stage ends with a long climb into the Apennine mountains.

Reuters