 The stage began with the largest successful breakaway of the Giro , 25 riders representing 18 teams . The only teams that missed the break were Milram , Ag2r , Fuji – Servetto , and the team of the race leader , Rabobank . They worked together as a cohesive unit for much of the stage , gaining a maximum six @-@ minute advantage over the peloton . Seven of the 25 broke free with 15 km ( 9 @.@ 3 mi ) left to race , and they contested a final sprint for the stage win . The first rider to try to take the win was Dries Devenyns , but he was quickly overtaken by Félix Cárdenas , who was in turn passed by Danny Pate . Pate , however , had the breakaway 's most experienced rider , Michele Scarponi , in his slipstream , and it was Scarponi who timed his sprint just right to take the stage win . The high @-@ placed riders in the general classification all finished with the peloton , 3 ' 57 " behind the stage winner , so there was no change to the top ten overall . 
