Mark Cavendish led the rider on this 210km stage from Cascina to Arezzo which started with Marco Canola of Bardiani on the attack with Jay Thomson of MTN Qhubeka, Bjorn Thurau of Europcar and Cesare Benedetti of NetApp Endura.
After twenty eight kilometres and having been joined by Lars Boem, they had taken a lead of 3.15 which went out to 4.30 after fifty kilometres, 5.10 with 95kms to go and then 6.37 twenty kilometres later.
Marco Canola, having got enough points to keep him well ahead in the King Of The Mountains competition, dropped back towards the peloton having done his work whilst Cataldo abandoned.
With fifty kilometres remaining, the quartet had a lead of 4.40 as race speeds averaged 40,035km/h.
Jay Thomson took the second sprint with 43.1kms to go before Roy Curvers of Argos Shimano crashed at a roundabout.
With three laps of an 11km finishing circuit in Arrezzo to go, Bjorn Tharau left the escapers and took a forty second lead over the chasing group and 2.10 over the peloton.
Thurau stayed away until 6.1 kilometres to go and Tinkoff Saxo took to the front as Santamorita suffered a puncture.
Lotto Belisol weren on the front working for Andrei Greipel with three left with Kwaitkowski of Omega Pharma Quick Step following him whilst Mark Cavendish, who admitted to being helped by the 'gentlemen of the peloton' in the second stage, was handily placed.
This was a technical finish and it was Omega Phara Quick Step and FDJ on the front.
A long line of riders surged towards the line. Philippe Gilbert went but it Cannondale's Peter Sagan won on the right in 5.10.17 ahead of Kwiatkowski, Clarke and Gilbert, followed by Impey, Bennati, Greipel, Geschke, Nocentini and Mondory.
Michael Kwiatkowski now leads the race by ten seconds from his team mate Rigoberto Uran and thirteen second lead over Simon Clarke.
Sagan said to Daniel Lloyd. "Thank you for my team mates who put me on the front. "It was very special for me to win this stage at what is an important part of the season."
Source: DSG
