PESCHICI, Italy: Italian Matteo Priamo, riding for the CSF team, broke away to win the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy on Thursday.

Priamo's compatriot Giovanni Visconti, who rides for Quick Step, took the leader's pink jersey.

Priamo built up a decisive lead over the final run-in of the 231-kilometre stage after a breakaway of more than 160 kilometres.

Spainard Alan Perez took second place, eight seconds adrift, as he struggled with the final climb to the finishing line.

The main peloton, which included overnight leader Franco Pellizotti, crossed the line 11 minutes off the pace.

The breakaway came at the 53-kilometre mark at the initiative of Estonian Rene Mandri, Germany's Paul Martens and Perez.

Mandri later fell and had to be taken to hospital where he was diagnosed as having suffered a cracked vertebra, broken rib and pneumothorax.

Nine other riders, including Priamo, reeled in the trio, at one point building up a lead of almost 16 minutes over the main peloton.

Priamo, followed by Perez, attacked 12 kilometres from the finish and held his nerve to record the most important milestone of his professional cycling career which started in 2006.

Saturday's seventh stage sees the riders tackle a mountainous 180-kilometre run between Vasto and Pescostanzo. - AFP/de