Cannondale's Peter Sagan beat Mark Cavendish by half a bike length to win the third stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico.
Today's 190km stage from Indicatore to Narni Scala saw Cesare Benedetti (NetApp-Endura), Garikoitz Bravo of Euskaltel and Francesco Failli of Vini Fantini get a lead of 7.45 which was reduced to 3.30 when Benedetti went away on his own with 71kms to go.
He was caught by Failli who took the intermediate sprint before the pair were caught with 20kms to go.
Fabian Cancellera was one who attacked before the riders had one last lap of 7.8kms to complete in Narni Scala.
Race leader Mark Cavendish in his Maglia Azzuria jersey, was forced over by Matt Goss and had to drop about twenty places in order to avoid crashing. as the riders rode through the rain.
Sergey Lagutin of Vacansoleil attacked with two to go. It was another bunch sprint and Peter Sagan took the win in a time of 5.15.12 ahead of Cavendish, Andrei Greipel,.Chiolek and Goss.
Cavendish keeps his leader's jersey.