Race leader Michael Matthews of Orica Greenedge extended his lead in the race with victory on the sixth stage of the Giro D'Italia.
A 247km stage that was extended to 257kms due to a landslide saw the race roll out of Sassano at 10.45am on its way to an uphill finish at Montecassino.
Jonny Hoogerland was one who attacked early but the break which got going comprised of three Italians and a Colombian in Marco Bandiera (Androni Giocattoli), Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani-CSF), Andrea Fedi (Neri Sottoli) and Rodolfo Torres (Colombia).
They were 12.16 ahead after sixty kilometres but were pulled back slowly pulled back and were nine minutes clear with 133kms remaining after Torres had taken the first mountain climb.
The sprint with 80 kilometres to go was not contested and Andrea Fedi took the points whilst down the road, Miguel Robiano, the Colombian champion crashed on wet roads.
The gap came down to three minutes for the final thirty five kilometres of a stage which paid tribute to those killed in the Battle of Monte Cassino seventy years ago.
Seven kilometres later, that gap had halved and with just over eleven kilometres to go, they were caught by the peloton which was soon decimated due to two big crashes. Tyler Farrar was down as was Gianpaulo Caruso who looked in a bad way although he was conscious.
As he was treated, an eight man group which included race leader Michael Matthews and former Tour De France winner Cadel Evans and Morabito, Durbridge, Santamorita, Wellens and Rabottini had got clear on the way up to the abbey at Montecassino, whilst those involved in the crashes got back on their bikes in ripped gear or had to be helped to carry onto the finish.
Robert Kiserlovski set off after this group but into the final kilometre, Evans had the hammer down and was on the front, followed by Matthews who got to the front and took the win in 6.37.01 ahead of Wellens, Evans and Rabottini.
Twelve seconds later in came Santamorita, followed by BMC's Steve Morabito eleven seconds later, Wilko Kelderman who was 49 seconds down and ahead of Finetto, Ulissi and Duarte.
Matthews now has a lead over Cadel Evans of 21 seconds, 1.18 over 3. Rigoberto Uran and 1.25 over Steve Morabito and Matteo Rabottini.