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Manuel Belletti of Colnago-CSF Inox recorded the host nation's second consecutive victory at the Giro d'Italia.

Belletti was part of a 17-man breakaway that formed on the 223km trek along the Adriatic coast from Porto Recanti to Cesenatico and came home seven minutes and 26 seconds ahead of the peloton.

A day after Filippo Pozzato became the first Italian rider to win a non-team stage on this year's race, the 24-year-old Belletti, who hails from the Cesena region, doubled the hosts' tally as he beat Team Sky's Greg Henderson to the line.

"Today's win is the realisation of a dream, whether it was skill or luck I don't know, perhaps it was both together," Belletti said afterwards.

"When I could raise their arms at the sky and I realised what was happening to me, I could not hold back tears."

The leading group were allowed to build up a nine minute lead with 26th placed Iban Mayoz of Footon the highest placed of the escapees on GC.

They maintained a healthy advantage as they crossed the second category climbs of the Perticara, with 61.4km remaining, and Barbotto with 42km left. 

Attack after attack was nullified following the descent from the Barbotto with Columbia HTC's Greg Lewis leading under the Flamme Rouge with 11 riders in hot pursuit.

Lewis' brave long range bid for the line was foiled by Garmin's Australian rider Cameron Meyer before Belletti produced a turn of speed to record his third professional win.

Mayoz climbed into 12th position overall thanks to his effort while Russia's Vladimir Karpets attacked the peloton on the Perticara and finished five minutes and two seconds behind the stage winner to move ahead of Cadel Evans in 14th place on GC.

Australia's Richie Porte kept the overall lead.

Giro d’Italia: Saturday 1.45pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) & on the Eurosport Player.

Lee Walker / Eurosport