Argos Shimano's John Degenkolb did not let the bookmakers who had made him favourite for the stage down when he won the fifth stage of the Giro D'Italia.
This was a punishing 203kms stage for the 206 riders from Cosenza to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera and six riders in Tomas Gil (Androni Venezuela), Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani Valvoli), Alan Marangoni (Cannondale), Ricardo Mestre (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Brian Bulgac (Lotto Belisol), Rafael Andriato (Vini Fantini Selle Italia), taking an early ten minute lead.
Stefano Pirazzi took the points on the day's opening King Of The Mountains Climb after 35kms but dropped away from the escapers to leave five men with a six minute lead ahead of a peloton which included race leader Luca Paollini with 125kms to go.
With the rain hammering down at the finish line in Matera, causing untold problems for the camera crews and Pablo Urtasun abandoning the race, the five escapees with a 7.52 lead at the halfway stage.
Rafael Andriato (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) took the second intermediate sprint in Rocca Imperiale. before Orica Green Edge took their turn on the front of the peloton and the gap continued to drop to 5.14 with 58.5kms to go.
On the climb up to Montescaglioso and with 22.3kms to go, the break was over and the teams started to think about getting their sprinters in a good position for what was shaping up for a bunch sprint.
Pirazzi took the five points available ahead of Gianni Visconti, whilst back down the road, Mark Cavendish was battling away to get into the front group so that he could challenge for the stage victory.
Gastauer, Bak and Vrecer went ahead to lead the race inside the final ten kilometres as the sun came out and dried the roads. Back down the roads, Cavendish was now in a group of riders that were off the back of the peloton and it looked like his chances of victory were over.
Matteo Rabottini went off the front of the peloton with 7kms to go and AG2R's Hubert Dupont did the same getting seven seconds clear as the likes of BMC's Cadel Evans looked to stay out of trouble, whilst trying to sneak some time bonuses.
BMC took over with three kilometres to go as the stage went uphill , through a wide urban avenues with two left-hand curves
There was a big crash at the first left hand bend . Riders were all over the place so Canola of Bardiani Valvole went. However, just before the line, he was caught by Argos Shimano's John Degenkolb, who had lost his lead out man in the crash, who won in a time of 4.37.48 beating Vicisio and Paul Martens.
Cavendish's group came in 6.42 back.
Luca Paolini who skilfully managed to get to the finish line, keeps his Maglia Rosa jersey, leading by 25 seconds. Giro d'Italia overall results were revised after the crash at the end of stage five and Sir Bradley Wiggins still in sixth overall.
Degenkolb said about his victory to his team's press office; “We knew that it was a stage that suited me today. But I was on the limit and it was so hard right up until the end.
“We had to suffer a lot, but I got the team’s confidence today. We controlled the whole race and they worked hard to keep me there so it is victory for all of us—a great day for Team Argos-Shimano.
“We started the finale very well. I had Luca Mezgec (SLO) in font of me, who did a fantastic job in bringing me into position. Unfortunately he crashed with 1km to go, leaving me alone, and there was only one guy in front from Team Bardiani Valvole.
“Viviani (Cannondale) was behind me, but I went full gas and made it to the finish, coming past the leader with 250 meters to go to win. But it was so hard. Incredible!"