Cadel Evans won the third stage of the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali.

Tthe peloton rode from Scandiano to Pavullo before Australian Evans - representing Silence-Lotto - made a solo break from the pack to win the stage and rise to the top of the general points classification.

Just behind Evans came Stefano Garzelli while another Italian, Vincenzo Nibali, finished in third position.

After a larger group escaped early on, only four remained during the final climb, the Valico di Gaiato - Garzelli, Nibali, Swede Niklas and Evans - and approximately ten kilometres from arrival Evans pulled away to win by the slightest of margins.

Stage three standings:

1. Cadel Evans (AUS) Silence-Lotto

2. Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Acqua Sapone-Caffe Mokambo

3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas

4. Johannes Fröhlinger (GER) Gerolsteiner

5. Luca Mazzanti (ITA) Tinkoff Credit Systems

General classification:

1. Cadel Evans

2. Stefano Garzelli

3. Vincenzo Nibali

Eurosport