Russian Pavel Brutt claimed a break-away win in stage five of the Giro D'Italia as fellow escapee David Millar dramatically suffered a chain malfunction in the final kilometre.

Tinkoff"s Brutt took the 203-km stage from Belvedere Marittimo to Contursi Terme after beating Johannes Froehlinger and Luis Laverde Jimenez on the uphill finish.

But Scotland's Millar, who joined the three men and Francisco Pérez in a day-long break-away, provided the final kilometre fireworks when his chain snapped as he attempted to follow Brutt's late attack.

The Slipstream rider immediately halted his race, before chucking his bicycle off of the side of the road in disgust as Brutt went onto take the biggest win of his career.

"The wife our of sponsor said she'd give me a kiss on both cheeks if I went on the attack. After winning the stage I made sure I got my kisses," 26-year-old from St Petersburg said.

"I attack a lot in races but I haven't won a lot and this is only my 12th professional win.

"To be honest I didn't think I'd have much chance but things went my way. We managed to stay clear of the main field and then I got away near the finish."

"I heard a noise and knew that something had happened when Millar snapped his chain. I didn't look round and just went as hard as I could. I struggled a bit because it was a uphill finish but it was great to make it to the line and win."

Italy's Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas team retained the overall race lead with American Christian Vande Velde still one second behind and last year's winner Danilo Di Luca in third at seven seconds off pace.

Thursday's sixth stage has been shortened by 33.4 kilometres and is now a 231.6-km trip from Potenza to Peschici, race organisers said.

Jeremy Stahl / Eurosport