ROME (AFP) - Australian Lotto rider Cadel Evans won the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali which finished with the fifth and final stage over 169.1km from Castellarano to Sassuolo on Saturday.

Emanuele Sella won the final stage by holding off the fast charging Stefano Garzelli and Vincenzo Nibali at the finish.

Sella surprised everyone by breaking for home with just over one kilometre still to ride.

Garzelii and Nibali were trying to overhaul Evans in the overall standings but the Australian held on to win by 17sec from Garzelli with Nibali third at 1min 15sec.

Evans, who finished second at last year's Tour de France, took charge of the race by winning Thursday's third stage in the mountains over 191km from Scandiano to Pavullo.

He took more than 30sec out of then leader Garzelli in that stage and held his advantange through two more days to be crowned champion.