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Viggiano - Diego Ulissi gave Italy their first stage win of the Giro d'Italia and his second career victory in the race on Wednesday when he won the 203-kilometre fifth stage from Taranto to Viggiano.
The 24-year-old Lampre rider, who won his previous stage in the Giro three years ago, beat veteran Australian Cadel Evans while Julian Arredondo of Colombia was third in a stage affected by strong winds and heavy downpours.
Evans's compatriot Michael Matthews retained the overall leader's pink jersey.
Ulissi said that there was a new wave of young Italian riders coming through and that people should just be patient while they gained in experience.
"I have just been lacking that little ingredient to win a major classic but I am improving every year," he said.
"There are young talented Italian riders. Just give us some time and we will start winning the one-day classics."
For 37-year-old Evans the stage was a frustrating one but he was delighted with the shape he was in.
"The cold, the rain.....the roads were slippery at the end and the visibility was reduced," said Evans, who has won just the one stage in the Giro in his career but won the points title in 2010.
"The way I performed today is confirmation that I am in good form. That is very satisfying."
Matthews's Orica team had performed impressively in running down an 11-man breakaway which at one point had a lead of six minutes over the peloton.
A further attack by Italian Gianluca Brambilla was also brought to an end 1500 metres from the finish as the Katusha team of experienced Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez reeled him in.
Evans launched the sprint for the line but Ulissi went past him and eased home, for his third stage win of the season, while Matthews was sixth.
Thursday's sixth stage is one of the longest of the race at 257km from Sassano to Montecassino, with the closing stages a 8.7km climb.
Results on Wednesday after the 203 kilometres fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia from Taranto to Viggiano:Stage
1. Diego Ulissi (ITA/LAM) 5hr 12min 39sec, 2. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) at 1sec, 3. Julian Arredondo (COL/TRE) same time, 4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/OPQ) s.t., 5. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) s.t., 6. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) s.t., 7. Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) s.t., 8. Wilco Kelderman (NED/BKN) s.t., 9. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) s.t., 10. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) s.t.11. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) s.t., 12. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) s.t., 13. Dario Cataldo (ITA/SKY) s.t., 14. Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL/LAM) s.t., 15. Nicolas Roche (IRL/TIN) s.t., 16. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) s.t., 17. Matteo Rabottini (ITA/NRI) s.t., 18. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) s.t., 19. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) s.t., 20. Franco Pellizotti (ITA/AND) s.t.
Selected:
24. Ivan Basso (ITA/CAN) s.t.
25. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) s.t.
26. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) s.t.
Overall:
1. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 17hr 41min 23sec, 2. Pieter Weening (NED/ORI) at 14sec, 3. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 15, 4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/OPQ) 19, 5. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) 26, 6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/SKY) 35, 7. Nicolas Roche (IRL/TIN) 37, 8. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) 41, 9. Dario Cataldo (ITA/SKY) 49, 10. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 52.
11. Steve Morabito (SUI/BMC) 52, 12. Ivan Basso (ITA/CAN) 1min 07sec, 13. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA/OPQ) 1:07, 14. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 1:09, 15. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) 1:10, 16. Julian Arredondo (COL/TRE) 1:10, 17. Wilco Kelderman (NED/BKN) 1:12, 18. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 1:12, 19. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) 1:12, 20. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/BKN) 1:15.
Selected:
22. Diego Ulissi (ITA/LAM) 1:23,
40. Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 1:47
69. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 3:40.
