Italian Diego Ulissi delighted home fans by winning a dramatic stage eight of the Giro d’Italia but Australian Cadel Evans’ fifth place meant he claimed the overall lead.
Ulissi edged out Croatia’s Robert Kiserlovski in the closing moments of the 174-kilometre leg from Foligno to Montecopiolo incorporating the category one climb of the Montecopiolo to record his second stage win.
Julian Arredondo, who was in an early breakaway, had a chance to solo to victory but was caught by Frenchman Pierre Rolland in the final moments, only for the Frenchman in turn to be passed in the last 300 metres.
Evans, 2011 Tour de France champion, came home fifth to claim the pink jersey and lead the overall standings by 57.3 seconds from Colombian Rigoberto Uran with Poland’s Rafal Majka just over 10secs further behind.